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SEStran & Tactran back Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) for Forth Valley Royal Hospital

Date: 17th August 2010

A study presented to the SEStran board recommends that a Demand Responsive Transport service (DRT) should be developed to serve Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

 

Demand Responsive Transport is used in circumstances where a commercial route is unviable, but a service is required to link passengers up with the rest of the public transport network.

 

The study shows that there is potential for achieving efficiency savings by transferring any passengers who are able from hospital Patient Transport Services to Demand Responsive Transport. To ensure that patients can access the sort of transportation that most closely meets their needs, the report proposes the establishment of a Triage system to be operated at the discretion of the Clinical Appointments Manager, in consultation with the patient. 

 

SEStran Chair, Cllr Russell Imrie said:

 

“DRT services are an ideal way to bridge the gap between bus services in cases where routes are not commercially viable. Instead of local authorities having to use scarce resources to maintain loss making services, DRT provides a cost-effective alternative linking in with viable commercial public transport provision.”

 

“In the case of Forth Valley Royal Hospital, DRT will enable the Health Authority to ensure that Patient Transport Services are used only where they are really needed, at the same time as maintaining links between communities and commercial bus services that serve the hospital directly. It’s a practical solution to ensuring that everyone has access to the hospital in a cost-effective way.”

 Councillor Will Dawson, Chair of Tactran added  

“Our Regional Transport Strategy aims to maximise the role and contribution of Community and Demand Responsive Transport in improving general accessibility and social inclusion.  This jointly funded study indicates that flexibly routed services have real potential to improve access to the new facilities at the Forth Valley Royal Hospital”. 

“Working with SEStran, NHS Forth Valley and our respective partner Councils, we are keen to explore the potential DRT offers as a complement to conventional bus services and an alternative for those who do not have access to convenient public or private transport options ”.     

“The Tactran Board will be considering the study at our forthcoming meeting on 14th September and I am optimistic that the Partnership will endorse the findings of the study, and agree to progress further work on exploring the potential options identified”.  

ENDS

SEStran - South East of Scotland Transport Partnership - is one of seven new Statutory Regional Transport Partnerships (RTP) created by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 and is a partnership of eight local councils covering the Borders, Clackmannanshire, East Lothian Midlothian and West Lothian, Edinburgh, Falkirk and Fife.

For further information, please contact:A

ndrew Dougal,

SEStran Communications Officer

T: 0131-524-5161

M: 07889-010-291

E: Andrew.dougal@sestran.gov.uk