Hospital Hopper service launches at Colchester Hospital New ‘Hospital Hopper’ bus launched to support Tendring patients Patients living in Tendring will find it easier to travel to hospital appointments thanks to a new ‘Hospital Hopper’ minibus funded by Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity and operated by Tendring Community Transport. The new service was officially launched on Thursday 19 March at Colchester Hospital, marking an important step in improving access to healthcare for people across the Tendring district. The Hospital Hopper provides safe, accessible and affordable transport for people who are unable to use conventional public transport. Many passengers are older people, individuals living with disabilities or long-term health conditions, and patients attending regular treatments such as cancer care or diabetes clinics. For many, the service is the only reliable way to reach their hospital appointments. Operated by Tendring Community Transport, the Hospital Hopper has been running since 2004. Until now, a single minibus operated four journeys a day to Colchester Hospital from Monday to Friday and two journeys per day at weekends. With the addition of the newly funded vehicle, the charity can now run two minibuses, increasing the number of journeys available and helping reduce waiting times for patients travelling to hospital. Transport remains one of the biggest barriers to healthcare access for many residents in Tendring. Several areas of the district are among the most deprived in England and have high rates of long-term health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and respiratory illness. Many residents do not have access to a car, and travelling by public transport can involve multiple bus and train journeys – something that can be extremely challenging for people with mobility issues, respiratory conditions or anxiety. Taxi fares to hospital can cost between £35 and £45 each way, putting them out of reach for many patients. Between April 2024 and March 2025, Tendring Community Transport provided around 8,000 health-related passenger journeys, with more than 6,500 registered users relying on the service. Demand continues to grow, with increasing referrals from GP surgeries, social prescribers and hospital teams including Urgent Care and maternity services. The additional minibus is expected to support more than 3,000 extra passenger journeys every year, helping patients attend outpatient appointments at Colchester Hospital, including the Elective Care Centre. The expanded service will also offer greater flexibility around appointment times, helping reduce stress for patients who might otherwise arrive very early or face long waits for return journeys. Pauline Mann, CEO of Tendring Community Transport, said: “The Hospital Hopper is a lifeline for so many people in Tendring, we know that demand for our services will continue to grow, there are areas across Tendring that need transport to Colchester Hospitals which we do not currently service, we are trying to secure funding to extend the Hospital Hopper further to support those areas. For residents living on low incomes, with mobility issues or long-term health conditions, simply getting to hospital can be a major challenge. This funding from Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity will allow us to meet growing demand and ensure that more people can attend vital appointments, stay in control of their health, and remain independent for longer.” Mandy Jordan, Associate Director of Charity at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Through the generosity of our supporters, Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity is able to fund projects that make a real difference to patients and communities. Access to hospital care should never depend on whether someone has a car or can afford a taxi. We are delighted to support the Hospital Hopper Service, which will help many people in Tendring get to the appointments and treatment they need. For many patients this service provides reassurance, independence and peace of mind, ensuring they can focus on their health rather than worrying about how they will get to hospital.” Manage Cookie Preferences