‘It is an excellent service and I am always treated as a friend by the receptionist and the drivers. As I am alone, this gives me a good feeling.'

‘Alternative would be a taxi, which as a pensioner I could not afford.’

‘I depend on the transport and appreciate the help that I receive.’

Have you ever been asked by an elderly relative or neighbour if you could give them a lift to their Doctor's surgery?

Have you ever thought how you would get their yourself if you couldn't drive or didn't have transport?

Partnerships for Wellbeing Patient Transport Scheme aims to deliver such a service...

The Inverness Voluntary Transport Scheme was initiated In March 2001. The Scheme provides non-emergency transport to anyone registered with a GP in Inverness who is unable to access any Community Healthcare facility.

Over the past five years the scheme has continued to expand, and has 900 patients now registered as using the transport scheme on a regular basis. In addition to the 14 GP practices and the services they provide, transport is also offered to patients to attend Primary Care appointments such as physiotherapy, podiatry, dentistry, occupational therapy and any appropriate support group that may be requested by referring staff.

A small charge is levied for this service, which is delivered by a team of Volunteer drivers and supported by NHS Highland.

Currently we have a pool of 8 Volunteer Drivers, working 4 hour shifts from Monday to Friday. All drivers receive an ID badge and outdoor fleece to ensure that they are easily identified as Volunteer Drivers by both patients and staff. Drivers will receive MiDAS training (Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme), organised by the Community Transport Association U.K. ,which promotes a nationally recognised standard for the assessment and training of minibus drivers. Drivers who successfully complete the MiDAS training will receive a nationally recognised certificate which is valid for four years.