A NEW “rapid” bus service between Royal Bournemouth and Poole hospital is being developed by health chiefs.

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, which runs both sites, hopes to have the service in place for 2024.

This would coincide with the completion of major development projects at both hospitals with the new emergency department, maternity and children’s unit and critical care unit at RBH and new operating theatres building at Poole.

Details on the exact route and stops of the bus service are not yet known.

Elliot Prescott, UHD travel and transport manager, said: “We’re currently working on a plan for rapid bus transit between our Royal Bournemouth and Poole hospital sites.

“Details are still to be agreed but we can confirm that our intentions are that both staff and the public will be able to make use of any service we launch.

“The exact bus route, drop off/pick up points and frequency are still to be agreed but we expect the service to be in place for 2024 when the major reconfiguration of services across these two hospital sites occurs.”

Major firms Morebus and Yellow Buses run services to and from both hospitals but direct links between the two sites are limited.

The Morebus number 14 travels on a route that serves the two sites, however, it is timetabled to take just shy of 90 minutes with it going via Wallisdown and Kinson.

Alternative options involve passengers changing in either Boscombe or Bournemouth town centre.

The NHS trust said it plans to have drop off and pick up very close to the hospital entrances to make the total travel time comparable to driving, parking then walking to the hospital.

David Squire, Yellow Buses managing director, said the company had worked in partnership with University Hospitals Dorset.

He said links with various routes to the hospitals had been improved since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, while staff can get discounts when purchasing weekly and monthly passes.

Mr Squire said: “We are very happy to continue working with the hospital and will help the develop any further bus links that are required such as the one you indicated in your email, we remain in regular dialogue with hospital management as the rebuild develops and new services come on stream.”

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