22 CHARITY
Nicola Findlay
Kilbryde Hospice has unveiled its new minibus which will transport seriously ill people they care for – thanks to a cash boost of more than £30,000.
Hospice staff and officials from the Royal Bank of Scotland were at the official unveiling of the new minibus, which will be used to pick up and drop off patients at their homes as well as used for outings and activities for them.
The hospice, which serves South Lanarkshire, applied to the Royal Bank of Scotland which granted the £32,610 needed to purchase the wheelchair accessible minibus.
Many of the patients living with lifelimiting illnesses are unable to access public transport and the minibus allows them to travel in a safe manner.
Margaret Mary Cowan, clinical services manager for the hospice, said: “To have a fully accessible minibus allows our patients who require transport to access our services. This is often a lifeline to them.
“Many of our patients’ first point of contact is with the driver of the bus and the passenger assistant and for some patients these may be the first people they have come into contact with since their last visit to the hospice.”
Margaret Kennedy, regional director of Business Banking Scotland, said: “The hospice, which serves South Lanarkshire, was awarded a grant from the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2014 to purchase the wheelchair-accessible minibus and we are delighted to be able to assist the hospice to carry out their work within our communities.
“The last time I was at the hospice I was wearing a hard hat and viewing a building site, so to be able to see a magnificent new hospice building, it’s only fitting that they