WEDNESDAY, 3 JUNE, 2020

Photograph attached: volunteer drivers Jim Martin and Alanna Cairns

COVID-19: Re:Act and British Red Cross support NHS Tayside’s patient transport service

NHS Tayside’s new patient transport service has received a boost in the form of volunteers from charities Re:Act and the British Red Cross.

The service was set up in April to help people who need assistance getting to and from the COVID-19 Community Assessment Centres or their regular hospital appointments, such as renal dialysis. It has since expanded to include transport for emergency dental and eye care, inpatient discharges, staff testing and GP home visits.

Initially NHS Tayside staff were voluntarily redeployed from other areas as drivers, and carried out journeys for up to 200 patients per week.

In order to meet an increase in demand, including evenings and weekends, and to replace those staff who need to return to their normal duties, Re:Act has provided 27 volunteers to work as drivers.

Re:Act (formerly Team Rubicon UK) is a charity volunteer force designed to respond to global crises and volunteers are all ex-military or emergency service workers. Working in partnership with the British Red Cross they have been deploying volunteers closer to home in support of the NHS and other ‘blue light’ services during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The service is currently running from 8am to 8pm, seven-days-a-week but the new volunteers will allow NHS Tayside to expand to a 24-hour service. Staff at assessment centres, GP practices and hospitals can organise transport for patients through the transport hub.

Associate Director for Improvement Tracey Williams said, “The transport service is a real asset for patients who would otherwise have struggled to get access to healthcare sites. This may be because they do not drive and are unable to use public transport because they have symptoms of COVID-19 or are shielding or self-isolating, or they may not feel well enough to drive themselves.

“The success of the service has relied on our staff and now on the generous help from volunteer organisations to keep the service running and extended into the out-of-hours period. Re:Act and the British Red Cross have a track record of rapid response to emergency situations and this has meant these volunteers come with the pedigree and back up of their organisations.

“Furthermore we have been able to offer this service to those who need our support thanks to some very generous local companies and we are very grateful to all of them for their donations. It really is making a positive difference for our patients.”

NHS Tayside worked with GPs, Transport Scotland, Scottish Ambulance Service and Health Protection Scotland to develop the transport hub to help people finding travel difficult due to public transport restrictions or other personal circumstances.

It was set up thanks to generous donations from local businesses. Arnold Clark provided 15 vehicles fitted with bulkhead partitions to provide a safe space between drivers and patients. BP is providing fuel, vehicle trackers were donated by Telematics, Tesco provided mobile phone cradles for drivers, Halfords donated child seats and LIDL gave steps to assist passengers in and out of the vehicles.

The service is also being support by Assured Group, which is providing a daily deep clean of the vehicles to ensure they comply with infection control standards. All drivers also have access to appropriate PPE.

The Scottish Ambulance Service is continuing to support patients who need to go to hospital in an emergency or those with limited mobility.

Contact:

Louise Wilson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718