A park and ride service for hospital staff is being re-introduced to ease congestion at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

The proposals came after heavy traffic and congestion had been experienced by those visiting the hospital, with the Worcester News reporting that 90-minute-long traffic queues had been experienced by those leaving the hospital this month.

Sixways is the likely destination for the interim park and ride solution, which will serve hospital staff and could be operational by early autumn, according to Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

The trust's managing director Stephen Collman said: "We have been working hard to alleviate the issues we know are experienced by those visiting the hospital – especially at peak times.

"In the short term this has included the introduction of traffic management, and we have also been working to identify a range of other options that will provide a longer-term solution."

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has worked alongside Worcestershire County Council on the service, which is part of a wider plan to make parking easier for patients, staff, and visitors at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Mr Collman added: “We are delighted that, following positive discussions with Worcestershire County Council, we are now in a position to move forward with one of these options which is the reintroduction of a park and ride facility at Sixways for colleagues working at Worcestershire Royal Hospital."

Amongst the potential longer term solutions are an 850-space multi-storey car park near the hospital, which would be served by an access road off Nunnery Way, and Worcestershire County Council confirmed that a planning application could be submitted by the end of July.

Regarding the latest park and ride proposal, councillor David Ross, who is Worcestershire County Council's cabinet member with responsibility for health and wellbeing, said: "I'm delighted to see the collaborative efforts between our team and the trust bearing fruit in addressing the traffic challenges around the hospital site.

"We are excited about the implementation of this remote solution for NHS staff, which we hope will enhance traffic flow and alleviate congestion."

Final arrangements are being made on the service ahead of a planned opening in early autumn.