WEDNESDAY, 09 SEPTEMBER, 2020

Dundee GPs first to use eBikes for house visits

Whitfield Surgery, based at The Crescent in Dundee has become Scotland’s first GP surgery to use eBikes to carry out house visits.

Inspired by Dundee’s Green Health Partnership, the GP surgery launched the program to help them connect with their community in new ways. A grant from Cycling Scotland’s Employer Development Fund supported Whitfield Surgery to purchase two eBikes, a secure cycle shelter and cycling accessories. Additional support was provided by The Code Store and Robertsign.

Dr Becky Forrester, Clinical Lead at Whitfield Health Centre, said, “We wanted to be role models for our community by being active ourselves. Cycling has brought so many positive benefits. I now feel more connected to the community I am serving. It is the little waves or informal chats that happen along the way which really bring me closer to the community.

“Using the e-Bikes has made us more environmentally aware and recently I was able to complete a 56 mile round trip completely carbon neutral. It felt very satisfying indeed! I hope that more GPs will start to see the great benefits that using e-bikes can bring for their practices.”

Dr Viola Marx, Green Health Partnership Coordinator, said, “Since receiving the bikes the GPs have already clocked an impressive 751 miles and completed over 21 house visits.

“It has been fantastic to see the GPs using the bikes for house visits. As a result more surgery GP partners and staff have expressed an interest in joining in so we have now applied for further funding to expand the project.”

Contact:

Cara Longmuir

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740716