The Evening Times ran an article about figures in a new report showing that women from Lanarkshire experience higher-than-average rates of stillbirth and neonatal deaths than other parts of Scotland. The region recorded the second-highest rate in Scotland with 6.42 deaths per 1,000 births. However it is worth noting that the figure of 7,096 Lanarkshire resident […]
Bus driver wants more talking behind his back
An East Kilbride shuttle bus driver wants more talking behind his back.
The driver of the free service which runs from the new Hunter Community Health Centre, doesn’t have a fetish for gossip, but simply wants more patients, public and NHS staff using his bus.
Callum McKinstray said: “I’ve been really impressed with the number of folk using the service – particularly in comparison to similar services I’ve heard about which haven’t done nearly as well.
“But I still see people leaving the centre who clearly have mobility problems, walking or getting a taxi, and I’d love them to use the free service which has been put on for their benefit.
“It’s particularly ideal for the elderly or those who have a mobility issue.”
NHS Lanarkshire introduced the shuttle bus to transport people between Hunter Community Health Centre and Atholl House and East Kilbride town centre while the new multi-storey car park opposite the health centre is being built.
The health board recognised that as car parking at the centre would be limited for the duration of the work, some centre users would park in Atholl House and the Town Centre, and put on the shuttle to take them to and from these locations to the centre. The shuttle will operate until the new multi-story car park opens in November.
The cheery driver, who has completed over 300 passenger journeys since the service launched at the end of May.
The number of users has delighted both NHS Lanarkshire and the Getting Together Better (GBT) Community Transport project which is providing the service on behalf of NHS Lanarkshire.
Graham Johnstone NHS Lanarkshire’s head of management services, said: “The up-take has been terrific, but we can take more which is why we’re reminding all those who use the new centre, that this free service is there for them.”
The shuttle bus operates Monday to Friday with the first shuttle leaving stance nine in the town centre at 7.51am, every day. It runs every 15 minutes thereafter with the last bus arriving back at the stance at 6.04pm.
For a full bus timetable visit: http://www.nhslanarkshire.org.uk/news/news/Documents/Shuttle-Service.pdf
To view the route map, visit: http://www.nhslanarkshire.org.uk/news/news/Documents/Hunter-Health-Centre-Shuttle-Service-Map.pdf
GBT Community Transport is currently looking for volunteer drivers with their own car to participate in the GBT volunteer driver programme which transports older people with mobility problems to medical appointments. For information, contact Paul Bridges on 01501 825800, or email: paulgbtshotts@btconnect.com
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