New evening hospital visitor service Launched in Twechar

Residents in Twechar can take advantage of a new free Evening Hospital Visitor Service which is being launched in the area later this month.

The service, which will operate Monday to Friday between 6pm and 10pm, will provide free evening transport for people in Twechar to the nearest acute Glasgow hospital.

Priority will be given to visitors to Stobhill but travel to the other acute hospitals may also be possible.

Anyone wishing to book the Stobhill service or to check the availability of transport to other Glasgow hospitals should contact the booking line number on 0845 128 4027.

The new scheme is the result of a partnership between Community Transport Glasgow, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, East Dunbartonshire Council and Twechar Daycare.

The announcement follows the success of a pilot scheme which was trialled by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and SPT last year.

Margaret Harkins, Community Transport Officer for East Dunbartonshire Council, said:

“I was keen to identify a local provider and approached Twechar Daycare’s Board of Directors who, given their knowledge and experience of providing transport for vulnerable individuals, were happy to expand their services to deliver the Evening Hospital Visitor Service in East Dunbartonshire.

“I’m delighted that we will be able to work with our partner organisations to provide a quality Evening Hospital Visitor Service for East Dunbartonshire residents.”

Twechar Daycare has employed a 20-hour paid driver to operate the scheme with Twechar Community Action involved in the administration process and journey information being provided by SPT. 

The service will commence on Monday 26th November with a formal launch on Thursday 29th November.

The service is totally free with no eligibility criteria at this time although, should it be over-subscribed, priority will be given to elderly clients, those with a disability, young families with children and other excluded groups.