FURIOUS NHS staff have slammed hospital bosses after discounted bus passes for workers were indefinitely frozen.

Previously, the Mid and South Essex NHS Trust subsidised the price of a monthly bus pass but bus firm Arriva has written to staff stating they will now have to pay the full amount.

It comes after free parking for staff at Southend, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals - put in place during the Covid pandemic - was scrapped and NHS workers forced to apply for a parking permit.

The trust confirmed it had temporarily ceased the discount scheme but was unable to confirm how long the temporary suspension would last.

Campaign group Save Southend NHS described the move as the latest blow in “poor treatment of employees”.

A spokesman for Save Southend NHS said: “With the NHS still in crisis, coupled with an ongoing cost of living crisis and staffing issues, it is despicable that Mid and South Essex Trust staff have had the funding support towards subsidised bus travel removed.

“What’s worse, is that Mid and South Essex staff had to find this out via the bus company and were not even dignified with a consultation from management.

“It seems Mid and South Essex continues their ongoing themes of a lack of transparency and poor treatment of their employees and we look forward to comments from those in power both at the trust and from our local MPs.”

As a result of the subsidy scheme being frozen, staff must now pay the full £54.17 for a monthly bus pass.

Save Southend NHS added: “Many staff members rely on buses in general to get back and forth to work and with the discount it made it easier for people who live a long distance from the trust.

“Little cuts make a big impact on people.”

Matthew Hopkins, chief executive of Mid and South Essex NHS Trust, insisted bosses were working to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

He said: “Unfortunately, we have had a temporary suspension of our subsidy scheme with Arriva Bus and are working to resolve the issues as quickly as possible.”