Transport firms in Scotland to get patients to appointments

Transport firms in Scotland are being drafted in to help people with suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms attend urgent but non-emergency medical appointments.

The Scottish Government and NHS Boards, with the support of Scotland’s business community, have been working to make vehicles and drivers available to COVID-19 symptomatic patients who are well enough to travel but do not have access to a car and are unable to use public transport to reach their local COVID-19 Community Assessment Centre.  

So far The Scottish Government has received more than 100 offers of support from businesses across Scotland to help move people and goods, and it is working with health boards to explore and take advantage of these opportunities.

Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: "While we are asking people wherever possible to look after themselves at home, when symptoms do worsen or become unmanageable patients may be asked to attend their local Community Assessment Centre. This can be challenging where a person is well enough to travel but has no access to their own transport and is not allowed to use public transport.

“These new patient transport services will be in line with social distancing measures and make it easier for people to get the right help at the right time which will also reduce pressure on hospital admissions.

“The patient driver services are a fantastic example of Scotland pulling together to respond to COVID-19 and I must give thanks to all those who have volunteered their services so far. I am particularly grateful to Arnold Clark for volunteering a fleet of vehicles to our Health Boards, car hire companies for their offers of support, and the taxi industry for engaging so positively with us to secure additional capacity if and where needed.