THE numbers of passengers using the Holsworthy Hospital Hoppa service may at last be on the up.

Following a meeting with Devon County Council half way through the pilot scheme, which provides transport to and from North Devon District Hospital, the North Tamar Community Transport Association has managed to secure funding for the service to continue until the end of next March.

In order to meet people's needs better some changes have recently been made, making the service more flexible, enabling patients to meet their appointment times and decreasing the waiting time for the return journey.

There is also an earlier start (at 6.30am) from Holsworthy for the benefit of people who have to be at the hospital for day surgery.

Since these changes were introduced the Coordinator, Cathy Withall, is happy to announce an increase in the number of passengers. Even so, as Martin Prentice, the NTCTA Treasurer and a Trustee, said:

"Numbers during the first three months have been insufficient to justify the service. It is vital that local people support it if they wish it to continue beyond March 2010."

Full details of the revised Hospital Hoppa service can be obtained from the NTCTA office on 01409 259001.