A new bus route to and from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has been branded a "missed opportunity" to improve workers' commutes.

Norfolk County Council has commissioned Konectbuses to run a new hourly park and ride service between the north of the city and the hospital, via the University of East Anglia.

However, its timetable has seen it come under fire from opposition councillors - who have questioned how much planning went into it.

The route will see the first service of the day arrive at 7.10am and last bus leave at 6.25pm. 

Emma Corlett, deputy leader of the Labour group at County Hall, said this does not allow hospital staff enough time to make use of the service.

She said: "It might made the service accessible to those staff who work in admin or out-patient services, but it is not at all useful for those who work shifts.

"For those who start at 7.30am, a 7.10am arrival might just about give them enough time to get to their clinical area and change into their scrubs.

"But even a delay of a few minutes would make them late to their shift and delay the night staff being able to leave.

"The day shift then finishes at 7.30pm, so even if people can make it there in the morning, they can't get back.

"This is a real missed opportunity to try and get people to shift from using their car to using the bus."

The service has been bankrolled by the county council from £49.5m of funding from the Department for Transport.

Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said: "This new service was a commercial proposition put to us by Konectbus who had consulted with the hospital on recommended timings and the finalised timetable.

"The 7.10am arrival was designed to accommodate the 7.30am shift change and managers at the hospital were confident this was enough time. 

"As this is the first bus of the day there are not likely to be issues with late running.

"A bus later than the currently timetabled 6.25pm departure was not highlighted by the hospital.

"I have asked Konectbus to re-visit the timetable and try to get something in later."