Bridge of Weir Community Council

EVENING VISITOR TRANSPORT SERVICE: HOSPITAL VISITING MADE EASIER

In October 2006, a ground breaking hospital visitor transport scheme was launched for the residents of Glasgow City. Since then, the scheme has been extended to residents of East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, Rutherglen and Cambuslang. On 6th October 2008, the service began in Renfrewshire, providing free transport for our residents to visit patients in the Royal Alexandra Hospital and other Acute hospitals in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Area

The hospital evening visitor transport service is available for anyone living in Renfrewshire, but priority will be given to those who wish to travel to their nearest hospital, to older people (those over 60), people living with a disability and those in receipt of benefits. To use the service, clients phone a booking hotline (0845 128 4027 - open every afternoon) and transport can be booked up to one week in advance. Clients will have to register and provide some information to ensure that those who really need the service are given priority. All information will be
treated in the strictest of confidence and in compliance with the Data Protection Act. Clients will have to give their address, which hospital they want to visit and what time visiting begins and ends. Pick up time will be confirmed by telephone and clients will be taken from their front door to a drop off point in the hospital. They will be given a time for the return journey, and be taken back home after visiting.

The evening visitor transport service is delivered through a partnership between Renfrewshire Community Health Partnership, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Renfrewshire Council, WRVS and Community Transport Glasgow. Community Transport Glasgow will host the booking hotline and will scheule pick ups and drop offs. They will contact WRVS in Renfrewshire with the schedule for that evening by 5pm. WRVS will provide a driver and Renfrewshire Council will make a vehicle available.

During the pilot period (6/10/08 - 31/03/09), usage of the service will be monitored, and a steering group will meet in February 2009 to agree a way forward from April 2009.