Bucks residents who do not have access to transport will be able to get to and from their vaccination appointments thanks to funding from community boards across the county.
Eight local community boards have joined forces with The Chilterns-Dial-A-Ride – a charity that provides affordable transport for people who are not able to transport themselves or use public transport services due to age, illness or disability – to get patients to their vaccine appointments.
They have donated money from their crisis funding allowance to help The Chilterns Dial-A-Ride to offer free transport to and from medical appointments for people in the area.
Each of the eight boards – Amersham, Beaconsfield and Chepping Wye, Beeches, Chesham, Denham, Gerrards Cross & Chalfonts, High Wycombe, Missendens and South West Chilterns – has donated between £500 and £2,000 to the charity.
Since the pandemic took hold, The Chilterns Dial-A-Ride has contacted GP surgeries and health centres, offering its services to anyone needing help to get to medical appointments, with prescription collections and food deliveries.
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With the Bucks vaccine rollout underway, the charity is now offering its services to help the elderly and all adults with mobility problems get to and from their appointments free of charge.
Chairman David Ouvry said: “We provide a vital service to many people in our local community. Some of our passengers with mobility issues cannot use a regular taxi service.
“They may be worried about how to get to and from appointments safely – that’s where The Chilterns Dial-A-Ride comes in.
“We are pleased to be able to support this important vaccine programme, helping to protect our vulnerable and elderly residents locally as we have been doing throughout the pandemic.
“Without help with funding from the Buckinghamshire community boards and other organisations we would be hard pressed, so we are grateful that they appreciate the work we are doing and are able to help us in this way so we can help those who need it.”
Gareth Williams, Buckinghamshire Council’s cabinet member for communities and public health, said: “Our community boards are focused on supporting their local communities in whatever way is needed.
“The coronavirus pandemic has brought with it many challenges but boards have been working hard with partners to help those most in need.
“This partnership with The Chilterns Dial-A-Ride demonstrates how quickly and effectively we can put schemes and support in place where it is needed and make a real difference to people in our local communities.”
To get in touch with the charity, call 07923 591955 or visit chiltern-dial-a-ride.net.
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