FARES on the Scunthorpe Hospital shuttle bus have gone up by 10p after a taxpayer subsidy was withdrawn.

The number nine shuttle bus service between Scunthorpe town centre and the hospital was operated by Hornsby Travel and joint-funded by North Lincolnshire Council and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at a cost of £10,900 a year.

Fares have increased from £1 to £1.10 each way since the change, partly because the subsidy has been removed.

Nick Hornsby said: "They have gone up but not by a great deal.

"It's partly because it's now commercial with no subsidy and that shortfall has to be made up.

"It was due a fare rise anyway."

Hospital spokeswoman Lisa Webster said: "for certain patients in receipt of certain benefits the cost of their transport is refundable and therefore this increase would not effect the most in need."

A North Lincolnshire Council spokeswoman said: "The council had been in talks with Hornsby Travel, and the firm volunteered to run the service commercially rather than be subsidised by the council.

"For this reason the council no longer subsides the service.

"Over two thirds of hospital users who use the service are passholders and therefore will not be charged any extra."

Roni Wilson, chairwoman of patient group Who Cares, said: "It does not seem to be very much.

"An increase of 10p, I would not have thought that would put many people off of using it."

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