Website will help hospital travel

A new website to help people plan their journey to Perth Royal Infirmary has launched as part of a pilot project to improve travel to hospital.

Regional transport partnership Tactran, alongside NHS Tayside, has developed the Go NHS Tayside website, which initially aims to assist those attending appointments at the urology department at PRI during the pilot phase.

The website – www. gonhstayside.co.uk – will allow patients to plan their journey online, and book and pay for some types of transport to attend their appointments.

The site aims to help patients access health facilities and services more easily, whilst raising awareness and use of more sustainable modes of transport.

NHS Tayside’s director of performance and activity Hazel Scott said:“I am very pleased to see the Go NHS Tayside website pilot launched.

“The site aims to make it easier for patients coming to PRI as they can see all the potential travel options available in one place and can make an informed choice. We know travelling to hospital can cause some worry for people so this website will hopefully help improve patients’experiences of visiting hospital.

“This pilot will also give us an insight into any demand there may be for potentially implementing this type of journey planning tool across NHSTayside.”

The Go NHS Tayside website has been developed with Scottish Government funding through MaaS (Mobility as a Service) Scotland, which helps organisations pilot their own innovative online journey planning tools.

Tactran is working with key partners across Tayside and Central Scotland to develop these online journey planning tools as part of its ENABLE Programme.

As well as NHS Tayside, Tactran is also working with Dundee and Angus College and Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park to develop online journey tools.

Tactran chair Councillor Richard McCready said:“I am delighted to be working with NHS Tayside on the launch of the Tactran ENABLE project.

“The online journey planning tools will help patients get to hospital.

“We hope that this work can be built on to improve sustainable access to all our public services and destinations.”