Community bus assists ambulance service

Fife Council’s Fife Bus is helping the Scottish Ambulance Service by transporting kidney dialysis patients to hospital.

The move follows a request from ambulance chiefs to help ease the pressure on their services and staff, many of whom have been redeployed to the front line.

John Anderson, hospital ambulance liaison officer for the Scottish Ambulance Service, said renal patients and NHS Fife staff had been spoken to to assess their needs and to see if any were suitable for alternative transport.

“They needed to be fully mobile and independent,” he said.

“We held positive discussions with Fife Council and came up with a solution which suited all concerned.”

Fife Bus is now transporting renal patients to both Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline, and Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, from Monday to Saturday each week.

Tony McRae, Fife Council’s passenger transport manager, said the service was delighted to be able to help patients.

“Fife Bus provides wheelchairaccessible transport free of charge to individuals in the community who have difficulty using mainstream public transport,” he said.

“Each driver is responsible for cleaning the vehicle and ensuring social distancing is maintained.

“Another benefit of this approach is continuity of care for the patients as they see the same driver each time.

“I want to thank the staff who have all embraced this new challenge.

“They see the importance of pulling together during this pandemic to help the most vulnerable in our communities.”

Fife Bus is being used to transport renal patients.