Ealing Community Transport (ECT) is pioneering a community healthcare transport pilot initiative, PlusBus for Health, in partnership with Ealing Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
In Ealing, transport is already provided for vulnerable people to attend hospital appointments. However, the CCG recognised a problem with people missing appointments in primary, community and secondary settings, for example, their GP.
ECT provides the pilot service, in partnership with the NHS. The service caters for anyone who has difficulty attending health appointments due to lack of appropriate transport; people who are elderly or frail, those with mobility or health problems or those who are geographically isolated.
Anna Whitty, CEO of ECT Charity, said: “ECT is excited about the opportunity to work with Ealing CCG on this pilot, and looks forward to showcasing what looks to be a successful, integrated approach towards a new model of care, that saves valuable NHS resources and ensures that the most vulnerable and isolated people in the borough are able to attend their appointments. We look forward to developing and evolving the service and promoting community transport as the viable solution.”
To read more about the pilot, read these two articles here and here.
