Patients at Wolverhampton's New Cross to begin taking bus to Cannock hospital in January

Controversial and radical multi-million pound plans will see non-emergency surgery such as hip replacements moved from New Cross Hospital to Cannock Chase Hospital.

Buses will transfer patients between the sites.

But a consultation – which was extended after complaints that people were not being allowed to have their say – has revealed that around 70 per cent have high levels of concern about the project, particularly around transport.

David Loughton, chief executive at New Cross, said he 'absolutely understood' people's concerns but had 'no doubts' the move would be a success.

The document has appeared on Wolverhampton City Council's website but comes two weeks after the official handover of services from Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust to the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.

Cannock Hospital is currently being renovated with new facilities and operating theatres, which Mr Loughton said would be even better than those at New Cross.

Operations are frequently cancelled at New Cross – sometimes dozens on a single day – but there has not been a cancelled operation at Cannock since 2003.

Mr Loughton admitted: "We're overrun at the moment.

"I absolutely understand people's concerns but I've done this before (in Coventry and Rugby) and had exactly the same opposition and that's a great service.

"I've got no doubts about this. People don't want their operations cancelled – it causes them and their families huge anxiety – but none will be cancelled at Cannock."

The consultation revealed hundreds of concerns about the process, with people saying they weren't being listened to, that it was an inconvenience to travel to Cannock and that public transport was not a suitable way of travelling after an operation.

Of reasons given for people's concerns, 59 per cent cited 'travel concerns'.

The shuttle bus service will be run by Arriva.

Mr Loughton said a 'dummy run' last week took 26 minutes from New Cross to Cannock.

He added: "The biggest problem was actually getting off the New Cross site, which took seven minutes.

"The facilities at Cannock will be better than here because they're being purpose built."

Opposition has also come from the Breast Cancer Action and Support Group which handed in an 8,000-strong petition opposing moving breast surgery.

Another concern highlighted in the consultation was a lack of an Emergency Department at Cannock Chase Hospital.

Ambulances will take up to 18 minutes to transfer patients back to New Cross – a 10-mile journey.

Routine operations, such as gall bladder surgery, hernia repair and hip, knee and ankle surgery, will move from New Cross to Cannock.