40 minute bus ride for patients transferred to Cannock Hospital
Hospital patients would have to present identification and proof of appointment to catch a 40 minute shuttle bus ride for treatment under proposals by health chiefs.
Bosses have also refused to rule out friends and family having to pay for the trip.
Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will take over the running of Cannock Hospital later this year as Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust is dissolved.
As part of the plans free buses will run between the city's bus station and Cannock going via New Cross Hospital shuttling patients.
Gwen Nuttall, chief operating officer, said: "We are in discussions with transport providers and the idea at the moment is that the bus would go from Wolverhampton Bus Station to New Cross Hospital then there would be two stops in between before it goes to Cannock.
"The patient would have to show identification with confirmation of an appointment.
"We are told by the bus company it would be a 40 minute journey from the bus station to Cannock and around 32 minutes from New Cross.
"We do have robust plans in place and we will be work hard with patients. We are not sure of the frequency of the buses and we have not determined if friends or family of patients would have to pay."
Facilities at Cannock, including operating theatres, are being upgraded as part of the project.
See also: Cannock minor injuries unit to stay open.
With the number of patients - particularly in A&E - soaring in recent years, resources have been stretched to the limit at New Cross, leading to more operations being cancelled due to a lack of beds.
Jean Hancox, the chairwoman of Wolverhampton's Breast Cancer Action and Support Group, had concerns about the plans.
She said: "For people who don't drive this will be a stressful journey. It is stressful enough having to go for surgery but having to get the bus from Wolverhampton to Cannock will only add to that. Then there is issue of family or friends accompanying them, will the have to pay? I'm not convinced it will work."
The types of surgeries to be undertaken at Cannock include gall bladder surgery, hernia repair, breast surgery and hip, knee and ankle surgery.
Day treatments such as endoscopy, rheumatology and dermatology are also lined up for Cannock.
See also: Campaigners will fight plans to reduce hours at Cannock minor injuries unit.
