VOLUNTEERS at the Westbury and District Link Scheme say that they urgently need more volunteer drivers to help get local people to vital appointments.
Link is a service for elderly or disabled people living locally who are unable to use public transport and have no one else to call on. It supports people living in Westbury, Hawkeridge, Heywood, Dilton Marsh, Chapmanslade and Yarnbrook.
Volunteers at Link say they have seen a sharp increase in demand for their services with 208 trip requests being submitted in June alone.
A Westbury and District Link Scheme spokesperson says, “Many will have seen reports in the media of Shaftesbury Car Link experiencing an unprecedented increase in requests for transport to attend medical appointments. This is associated with the NHS transport service effectively turning away requests from members of the public for transport to attend vital hospital appointments.
“The centralisation of these key medical services has undoubtedly assisted with greater efficiency in them but created major problems for so many people in attending them when they have no independent transport. Our own similar charity, staffed by volunteers, Westbury and District Link, has experienced a similar increase. From April to June total trips increased by 40%, with a 48% increase in hospital visits. In June we responded to 208 trip requests, that is around ten every weekday.
“With volunteers providing transport using their own cars, this service is facing the terrible situation where it has to turn down a request due to there being no driver free and available.
“More volunteers are urgently needed for the people of Westbury who have important, if not vital, medical appointments. Volunteers get paid expenses for the use of their cars and volunteer only at times that suit them.”
For more information go to www.westburyanddistrictlinkscheme.co.uk or phone 01373 859669 between 9am and 1pm Monday to Friday.
