Integrated Transport Scheme in a Rural Area - The Gloucestershire Hospital Transport Scheme
Overview
Background & policy context:
This project was for the development of a rural health transport co-ordination pilot in the South Cotswold District of Gloucestershire, England.
The idea for the pilot was first conceived during discussions between senior management staff of the Gloucestershire Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust (GAS) and Cotswold Council for Voluntary Service (CCVS), formerly South Cotswold Council for Voluntary Service, at a time when the eligibility criteria for Patient Transport Services (PTS) was under review. This review, which commenced in 1999 and was implemented in 2000, resulted in the criteria for PTS being tightened, at the time creating tension between GAS and a number of the (voluntary) social car schemes in the County who were concerned they would be left to “fill the gap”. However GAS and CCVS saw the solution to this to lie in closer working between them and wanted to examine how this might best be achieved.
A desk exercise to examine the schedules of GAS and the CCVS social car scheme journeys to hospital at the time, suggested there could be scope for up to 30% savings in the use of vehicle resources if the demands met by both operators were co-ordinated.
Objectives:
The aim established for the pilot was:
“Through the co-ordinated use of GAS non-emergency ambulances and volunteer drivers with the CCVS social car scheme, to provide more transport, to more patients and to more diverse medical destinations, than is currently possible with the services operating separately.”
Its overall objectives were:
- to investigate the potential savings in transport costs for providers;
- to examine the possibility of using such savings to allow for more journeys and to address issues of social exclusion;
- to identify any other benefits of co-ordination;
- to identify any barriers to co-ordination;
- to produce recommendations for the future operation of similar schemes and the possible extension of the project scheme into neighbouring counties.
Methodology:
- Stage 1 - familiarisation and design, including the specification of appropriate IT systems;
- Stage 2 - consultation on design; procurement and installation (including training) of the IT systems; implementation and monitoring of integrated operations; adjusting systems as appropriate;
- Stage 3 - assessing the feasibility of using volunteer driver down time more productively through the use of communications technology; implementing and monitoring any subsequent changes in operations; identifying any other opportunities for closer integration between CCVS and GAS, implementing and monitoring accordingly.
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