SMPs are looking at ways to improve bus transport to hospitals, in the wake of a new report by Scottish Transport.

It found that 60 per cent of those surveyed felt that hospitals were sufficiently accessible by bus. However, only 56 per cent of the over 60s and 46 per cent in rural areas agreed.

The Scottish Labour Party’s spokeswoman for infrastructure, Mary Fee, said the present system amounted to “a postcode lottery”, and said: "It is clear that people from our poorest communities, without access to a car, will face difficulty visiting family members in hospital during the Christmas and New Year holidays.”

However, the SNP has defended its record on public transport, highlighting its introduction of free bus passes for the over 60s, veterans and disabled people.

Labour has introduced the Bus Regulation (Scotland) Bill, which it says is aimed at protecting the less profitable bus routes by bundling them with more desirable ones for operators. The SNP is considering supporting the bill.