THE second stage of an initiative to enhance bus services for patients and visitors attending hospitals in Worcestershire will be launched next Monday.

People will now be able to travel from Worcester to the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch on Mondays to Fridays.

The bus service will operate from Worcester's CrownGate bus station and will call on request at the bus stand at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, on its way to the town's bus station.

"Together with Worcestershire County Council we launched, in September this year, the first stage of our county transport plan for patients, visitors and staff travelling by bus from Kidderminster to Worcester and Kidderminster to Redditch," said Alec Kendall, assistant director of public health, at Worcestershire Health Authority.

"The next stage of our initiative is to ensure patients and visitors from Worcester have a direct bus service to the hospital in Redditch.

"I am now pleased to say the bus operatives, Dudleys' and Hardings' Coaches have altered the timing of their journeys to fit in with hospital appointments and visiting times."

The normal single fare of £2.15 and the return fare of £3.20 will apply.

The bus service will also be enhanced by Redditch Community Transport for NHS patients and visitors only. It will operate an afternoon and evening service on designated weekdays.

Passengers will be set down at CrownGate Bus Station and at any recognised bus stop in the Worcester Citycard area. The service operates free of charge.

Patients will receive details from their hospital out-patients' departments.