Staff to be charged for hospital bus service

A bus service to hospital sites in Leicester will no longer be completely free for staff, health bosses have announced.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) says from 25 August a Hospital Hopper single adult fare from a non-UHL site – currently free for trust staff – will instead cost them £1.80.

GMB Union described the charge as a "pay cut by stealth" and has launched a campaign to reverse its introduction.

Samantha Stanhope from UHL said the trust was "committed" to making sure the bus service was "financially sustainable".

The Hospital Hopper service connects Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital and Glenfield Hospital with other stops throughout the city.

The trust added a single adult fare from a UHL site would remain free for staff and there would be no changes to Hopper fares for the public.

Jim Clarke, from GMB Union, said: "This charge discriminates against lower-paid and multi-site NHS workers the hardest and it will have the effect of encouraging more car use."

UHL said the introduction of a subsidised charge was to ensure the service remained free for staff travelling between hospital sites.

Ms Stanhope added: "This decision was taken after careful consideration and we recognise the impact it will have on some of our colleagues.

"These measures will keep the cost as low as possible for them while allowing UHL to continue to maintain this important service going forward."

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