Our transport scheme offers vulnerable free lifts to Covid boosters
We’re urging vulnerable people from Southampton needing a lift to their booster vaccinations to get in touch with our SCA Transport team (December 2021).
We’re offering eligible individuals transport to their third vaccinations or any other urgent medical appointments they may have in partnership with the Patient Support Hub at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
John Havill, our Transport Operations Manager, says: “We’re here to ensure anyone in our city who needs to get to an essential appointment and is vulnerable, and potentially isolated, can do so safely. Through our partnership with the Patient Support Hub at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, it’s not just lifts we offer, we also have an army of volunteers on hand to meet and greet patients and offer additional support too.
“We launched our free service earlier in 2021 and operate all year round but are stepping up awareness of our activities now to ensure people know we can help them get to where they need to be, especially given the current Covid vaccination push related to the new Omicron variant. We’re also able to get people to their flu jabs and any other vital clinics this winter.
“We want to ensure anyone who is eligible for our help knows we’re here. If you qualify for our service and need a lift to a vaccination or medical appointment, and to be then taken back to the comfort of your own home, please call us on 023 8022 2033 or email via dialaride@sciagroup.co.uk.”
Making lives easier
Acting Head of Patient and Family Support at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Emma Squires says: “It’s wonderful to be working with SCiA to make this positive initiative available to those in our society who need it the most and to make people’s lives a little bit easier. Our service supports the most vulnerable in our community, often those who are isolated. We also provide volunteers to meet and greet patients off buses and help them, offering face-to-face befriending to improve their experiences, which means it’s so much more than a physical journey that we provide.”
Our essential service collects and returns those aged 50 plus who cannot use public transport and don’t have their own vehicle to take them to and from their essential medical and vaccination appointments.
It is available to individuals who are clinically vulnerable, have learning disabilities, a mental health condition or are unpaid carers living in Southampton, who would otherwise struggle to attend.
The scheme transports recipients from their homes, anywhere in the city, to Southampton General Hospital, Royal South Hants Hospital, GP surgeries and other medical centres – excluding dentists and opticians.
Free, accessible transport
We use an accessible minibus, that can carry wheelchairs, to provide the service, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8.30am until 4.15pm.
It is funded through Southampton city Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
Anyone who qualifies and is able to independently transfer onto the vehicle without the need for specialist equipment can book a free journey with our team at SCA Transport on 023 8022 2033, email dialaride@sciagroup.co.uk or by contacting the Patient Support Hub on 0800 484 0135.