New community transport partnership pilot scheme offers subsidised travel to medical appointments outwith D&G
Patients in one part of Dumfries & Galloway can now access personal door-to-door transport for medical treatment outwith the region for the same price as the equivalent public transport fare.
And the one-year pilot scheme in Annandale & Eskdale could be rolled out across the region if it proves successful and further funding becomes available.
Annandale Community Transport Services (formerly Annandale Transport Initiative) is offering affordable travel to hospital appointments in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Carlisle and Newcastle to patients who don’t qualify for free transport from the ambulance service.
The pilot scheme is being run by Community Transport DG, a new social transport partnership involving Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway, Dumfries & Galloway Council, NHS Dumfries & Galloway and SWestrans.
Patients who don’t qualify for the ambulance service’s free non-emergency patient transport (NEPT) are often unable, or can’t afford to, drive or use public transport and have no one else to transport them.
The new scheme allows Annandale Community Transport Services to offer these patients subsidised travel bringing the cost in line with public transport prices.
For example, this brings the cost to the patient of a return trip from Lockerbie to Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital to under £30.
The balance is being funded by Dumfries & Galloway Council’s policy development funding for social/community transport.
Annandale Community Transport Services Manager Janet Saunders said the organisation was delighted to be delivering the new scheme: “The need for this became evident from the numerous enquiries we had from patients. Community Transport DG has given us the opportunity for our volunteers to take them to appointments in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Carlisle in community cars at the cost to patients of a second class rail fare.”
The service is available for patients not eligible for the ambulance transport service but who have no other way to attend the appointment.
David Link, Development Officer for Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway, said: “This fantastic new service, made possible by our new region-wide social transport partnership, will be of huge benefit to patients faced with the considerable cost of travelling to appointments outwith the region.
“We hope it will prove successful and can go on to help people across Dumfries & Galloway.”
To find out more about accessing the service, contact Annandale Community Transport Services through the website www.actsbus.org.uk or telephone 01576 203053.
*A new website for Community Transport DG – www.communitytransportdg.co.uk – has been launched this month offering information about the Partnership, details for 14 community transport organisations involved, the range of services they provide and the difference they make in communities
