Integrated Transport

Improving access to health and social care services is an important pre-requisite to implementing the policy objectives of "Building a Health Service Fit for the Future" – the 2005 report that considered the future shape of the NHS in Scotland. The report highlighted the shift in emphasis to more community-based services. You can download the report here:

Building a Health Service Fit for the Future

We are collaborating with the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) and a number of local partnerships on work that seeks to create local integrated transport with care services. An Efficient Government Fund bid, submitted jointly with the Scottish Ambulance Service, has received Stage 1 approval to enable us to work up a business case for a Stage 2 bid worth up to £2m in order to support a national programme.

This Integrated Transport with Care initiative aims to optimise available resources from SAS, NHS Boards, Local Authorities and Community Transport Providers to create integrated non-emergency transport services that provide a safe, reliable and effective service for those who meet agreed eligibility criteria.

We believe there are tremendous opportunities to make better use of existing transport resources, thus improving the quality and range of services for those who need "transport with care".

A National Improving Transport with Care Services Conference was held on Monday 19 June 2006 at the Beardmore Hotel in Clydebank. This national event, jointly organised by the JIT, CoSLA, the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS Scotland, launched and promoted the Transport with Care initiative that is currently undergoing further development.

Work is currently underway to develop the substantive Stage 2 bid to the Efficient Government Fund (EGF) by 31 August 2006. We will continue to provide regular updates as work progresses.