Our Other Activity
Our Other Activity
Work with Scottish Government on Transport to Health and Social Care
MACS took part in a Scottish Government Primary Care Team workshop to see:
![4 team members stood smiling.](/media/51830/sct03225512482_g51.jpg)
- which areas of our report could be worked on
- what the jobs of the Strategic Advisory Board should be
![An older woman in a wheelchair with 2 NHS staff beside her. Behind them is an NHS hospital building.](/media/51831/sct03225512482_g52.jpg)
In 2019 MACS were asked to look at Transport to Health and Social Care.
There were problems for disabled people and older people getting transport to their appointments.
![A questionnaire with a hand ticking a box saying 'no'.](/media/51832/sct03225512482_g53.jpg)
Disability Equality Scotland ran a poll asking if people had problems getting to medical appointments.
Nearly everyone who answered the poll said yes, they had difficulties.
![An Easy Read report.](/media/51833/sct03225512482_g54.jpg)
In March 2020 we held a second meeting and made a shorter report with 9 recommendations.
![A group of people working together on the same document.
An envelope with a NHS appointment invitation inside.
An accessible minibus.](/media/51834/sct03225512482_g55.jpg)
- Transport should be an important part of care and organisations should work together on care planning.
- Get information on health appointments that are missed because of transport difficulties.
- Transport should be designed around access to health and social care. Resources and budgets should be shared.
- One organisation needs to lead the planning of transport to health service.
- Disabled and older people should be more involved in transport to health services and design.
- The Support Assistance Service should look at whether patients can book transport online. The Support Assistance Service, hospitals and GPs need to have accessible information about transport.
- There must be enough parking and accessible parking at hospitals and other health care places.
- All local authorities should have an accessible transport strategy.
- Make it quicker to leave hospitals. And make waiting spaces nicer and easier to chat with other people.
![A boss crossing her arms at her desk. A group of disabled and older people.
A man sat at a table using the internet on his laptop. 2 disabled parking spaces. A plan document. An NHS waiting room with several people sitting there.](/media/51835/sct03225512482_g56.jpg)
Scottish Ministers said they will:
- look at these recommendations
- make a plan by the end of 2021
![5 people sat at a table planning together. The word 'plan' is below them.](/media/51836/sct03225512482_g57.jpg)