This service is for people of any age who are resident in the community council areas of Acharacle, Ardgour, Morvern, Sunart or West Ardnamurchan and who need assistance to attend NHS appointments.
We own a Citroën Berlingo which is based in Acharacle and our volunteer drivers are also able to use their own vehicles to assist you to attend your appointment.
How it works
As soon as you receive your appointment letter, contact Bryan, our service coordinator by emailing bryan.gregg@urram.scot or by calling on 01967 750060. Bryan will arrange a volunteer driver and plan your journey. He will then contact you to let you know who your driver will be and what time you will be collected. Your driver will telephone you to confirm. The driver will collect you from your house, take you to your appointment and then return you to your house. There is a small charge for this of £15 to Fort William and £25 to Raigmore. We do our best to help all that we can, but we are reliant on volunteers so unfortunately there may be occasions where we are unable to help.
FAQ’s
Will the car come when I want it?
The service is planned with your needs in mind and pick-up time will be arranged when you book, we will endeavour to pick you up as close to this time as possible.
Can I book more than one journey at the same time?
Yes, for regular appointments as part of your critical care. Our drivers are volunteers but we do our best to ensure we can support you in this way if necessary.
Do I have to state why I am travelling?
You will not be asked for details however it is helpful to our volunteer driver to know what hospital department you need to attend.
Can I book the car for an in-patient appointment?
Yes, and we can also collect you after your hospital stay for your return journey home.
Can I be picked up from my house?
Yes, Urram Hospital Transport is a door to door service, we will collect you from your house or if required another address in the service area.
Which vehicle will be used for me?
We have a Citroën Berlingo based in Acharacle, an NHS vehicle for occasional use based in Strontian, and if willing we are insured for volunteers to use their own cars if that is suitable. When your trip is confirmed we will let you know which vehicle to expect.
How much does it cost?
If you are on certain qualifying benefits the service is free, we will discuss this when you book, otherwise there is a charge of £15 for journeys to Fort William and £25 to Raigmore and other hospitals. This fee contributes to service running costs.
What if I need to cancel?
Simply phone and let us know as soon as you are aware of your changes in circumstance. Again, as much notice as possible would be appreciated.
Is the service always available?
We aim to assist whenever we are needed however this depends on the availability of a volunteer driver.
Further Information
Unfortunately, we are not in a position to provide transport for unaccompanied children (16 and under) or dogs (other than guide dogs). All drivers are members of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Adult Scheme and will be following Urram’s Safeguarding Policy.
We may contact you after you have used the service for your feedback and statistical purposes. This will help us to continue to improve the service and may help with future funding applications. Any information you do provide will be held in accordance with our privacy policy but of course you are not obliged to answer any further questions.
We are very grateful to PACT and their generous financial contributions, however even with this and the per mile payments from the NHS, the service only just breaks even. If you would like to make a contribution to this vital service, or indeed towards Urram’s other services and vision of ‘Delivering the best possible care for people in Acharacle, Ardgour, Morvern, Sunart & West Ardnamurchan’ then you can do so via our support us page.