Journey begins for GP surgery shuttle bus
Residents living in the Carse of Gowrie can now take advantage of a new community transport service to get to and from their doctor’s appointments.
A community transport service has been set up from the Madoch Centre in St Madoes, and officially went live on Monday, October 21.
Initially, a community transport planning group was set up in the village last year to look at how to help older people in the area get out and about, particularly to exercise classes and support groups at the Madoch Centre.
However, when the announcement came the doctors’ surgery was moving to a brand new home in nearby Errol, and the temporary surgery in St Madoes was to be shut, concerns were raised on how residents without a car would get to and from their appointments.
The group decided to instead focus on helping patients get to and from their appointments at the new surgery.
They spent months fundraising to buy a minivan and recruit and train volunteer drivers.
After the Madoch Centre received funding from Perth and Kinross Council through the local action partnership, Oli Gage-Walker was taken on board as the community transport coordinator.
Oli, who took up the post in August, said: “We hope that this scheme will really help those who have been worried about how they would get to the medical practice, particularly older folk or those who might struggle to stand for a long time at a bus stop.”
Anthea Bircham, community development coordinator at the Madoch Centre, added: “The response from our villages has been amazing.
“We have a great group of volunteers.
“It just goes to show that people are concerned for the more vulnerable in their communities and want to support them.”
The service is free of charge, although donations towards fuel costs are encouraged.
Residents who want to take advantage of this new community transport service can pick up a registration form from Errol Post Office, The Madoch Centre, the chemist or the doctors’ surgery.
Once they have completed the form, they can book transport within 72 hours notice on 01738 310412 or by emailing transport@ madochcentre.com
The transport service will be staffed weekdays between 9am and noon and is now taking bookings.
Over 20 residents have already committed to volunteer to drive for the new scheme, and they have completed training courses, vehicle licence checks and Disclosure Scotland checks.
A dozen more kindhearted people have also said they will volunteer as assistants.
The news has been welcomed by Cllr Angus Forbes, who represents the Carse of Gowrie at Perth and Kinross Council.
Cllr Forbes, who is also convener of environment and infrastructure at the council, said: “This is excellent news for the Carse, as it will provide a vital support service to enable local older people and residents with disabilities to access healthcare.
“I am very pleased that the council, through the local action partnership, has been able to support the development of this community transport service, which has a very dedicated group of volunteers at its heart.”
Pictured from left, Moray Fraser (public transport officer, Perth and Kinross Council), volunteer driver Mark Lawson, 98-year-old Elizabeth Coutts (first passenger to book a journey), Oli GageWalker (community transport coordinator), Sheila Prain (volunteer assistant), Rhoda Henderson (transport planning group member), Anthea Bircham (Madoch Centre’s community development coordinator) and Cllr Angus Forbes (Carse of Gowrie councillor)
The response from our villages has been amazing