A BUS company is being urged to improve services to a new hospital in Redcar.

Councillors are hoping that Arriva will look at the possibility of creating a new circular route to get people to the Redcar Primary Care Hospital.

Concerns have been raised that patients from the east of the town are being forced to change buses or face a lengthy walk to make appointments.

Coun Eric Howden raised the issue at a Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council cabinet meeting.

The Dormanstown councillor said: “People have to meet appointments.

“If appointments are missed, which at present many are, they may have to wait a long time for another to be allocated.

“Many of the people affected are ill and infirm. It is our duty to help them.

“People in east Redcar face a similar problem.

“A circular-type route that gives maximum coverage to both these areas and runs from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday, would be well-used and greatly appreciated.”

The new £30m hospital replaces services previously provided at nearby Stead Primary Care Hospital.

The building, in West Dyke Road, provides facilities for four general practices, community services, outpatients and care for the elderly.

It will also provide day theatre and endoscopy, and a minor injuries unit, as well as x-ray, ultrasound, physiotherapy and hydrotherapy departments.

Coun Mary Lanigan, the council executive member for highways, transportation and planning, told the meeting she had taken on board the criticism and would take it up with Arriva at a forthcoming meeting with the firm.

She said: “As a council, we are not in a position to instruct Arriva to change their routes.

“But negotiations have been ongoing for several months, with Arriva looking at possible changes to their bus services to ensure that the new primary care hospital in Redcar is covered.

“We hope to have draft proposals to discuss soon.”

Arriva is already planning to revamp services for Redcar and East Cleveland.

Last month, the firm announced that Redcar bus station would be reopening, with a new access road leading into the station and two new bus stands.

There will also be car parking for drivers, new information displays and a duty officer available.

The company is also finalising plans to replace about 75 per cent of its East Cleveland fleet with new easy-access buses.