A NEW staff shuttle-bus service is expected to go live today in order to ease congestion at Great Western Hospital.

The bus, which was set to launch early this morning, could see up to 200 car parking spaces at the hospital freed up for patients.

Before now, congestion at the site has caused an outpouring of anger from patients and visitors alike, many of whom claim to have missed appointments because of the lack of available parking.

Others, like Covingham resident Andy McKinna, received penalties as a result of having to abandon their cars in unmarked spaces.

Mr McKinna from Pheasant Close received a £50 fine after parking in an unmarked bay to take wife Karen to the hospital for a check-up on her broken ankle.

“I welcome the shuttle-bus idea,” said the 40-year-old. “I think it is certainly a step in the right direction.

“Going into hospital or visiting a loved one in hospital is a stressful time as it is without having to worry about finding a space.”

The £30,000 shuttle-bus service, which will run from Honda’s South Marston site, will be free to its users who currently pay between £3.33 a week and £200 a year to park at Great Western Hospital and will be paid for by the hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust.

But Mr McKinna hopes that a pledge by health secretary Andy Burnham will see hospital parking fees abolished by 2013.

The MP made his promise for ‘more fair and consistent approach to parking’ on the day he and the Department of Health launched an eight week consultation into hospital parking fees on December 29.

If charges in hospital car parks are scrapped, each inpatient would receive a permit for the length of their stay, which family and friends could use, helping to ensure commuters couldn't use the Great Western Hospital site as a park and ride.

Mr McKinna said: “No-one chooses to go into hospital and it a stressful time for anyone whether they are receiving treatment or visiting someone.

“I just hope this plan isn’t just another empty promise because we have an election coming up. I want to actually see some changes.”

To take part in the parking consultation visit http: //www. dh. gov. uk/en/Consultations/ Liv econsultations/DH_110557 or call the Department of Health’s enquiry line on 0207 2104 850.