Minutes of the Transport and Access Forum Held on 11.00am, 10 th July 2007 At NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Dalian House, 350 St Vincent Street, G3 8YZ

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1 Minutes of the Transport and Access Forum Held on 11.00am, 10 th July 2007 At NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Dalian House, 350 St Vincent Street, G3 8YZ Present: Niall McGrogan, NHS GG&C Head of Community Engagement & Transport Shona McAllister The Princess Royal Trust Glasgow South (Dixon) Carers Centre Jim Thomson, Fair Deal Anne Marie Kennedy, RSVP East Renfrewshire James Duncan East End Patients Forum Alec Mckoy, Lomond Patient Group Apologies: Karen Haldane, Inverclyde Community Care Forum Jess Thomson, Friends of the Victoria / East Renfrewshire Access Panel Professor Douglas McGregor, South East Glasgow Health Forum Chris Drapper, NHS GG&C Transport Projects Manager Agnes McGroarty, Member, West of Scotland Seniors Forum Irene Forrest, North Area Transport Association John Thompson, The Murray Foundation Barbara Walker, Better Access to Health Janette McCormack, Healthy North Glasgow Julie Young, The Princess Royal Trust Glasgow South (Dixon) Carers Centre Anne Jack, Chair of Patients Forum Robert Houston, Chair of Pollok Community Forum Item 1. Welcome, Apologies & Introductions Niall welcomed all and offered apologies from those who were unable to attend. The agenda was offered and accepted. Introductions around the table were made. 2. Minutes of the Last Meeting (29 May 2007) The minutes were accepted as accurately reflecting the proceedings.

2 Niall planned that in the future these minutes would be made available on out website. Therefore, for this and future meetings please let Chris know if there is anything that you don t wish to have minuted. 3. Matters Arising SPT Board Members A list of SPT Board members was distributed. There were two sections to the list. The first section was elected (council) members and the second, shorter section, were non-elected (public appointed) members. Niall suggested that the TAF note their local SPT council members and utilise this information in constructive ways to promote the transport agenda. Once the new SPT Board has bedded in Niall would inform the TAF of which areas of responsibility each councillor was assigned. Bus passes for Disabled Under 60 Chris had obtained a response from Transport Scotland which was circulated. Previously, local authorities were responsible for all aspect of local concessionary travel schemes. This meant interpretation was varied and implementation was diverse throughout Scotland. Following an extensive Scotland wide public consultation exercise, national eligibility criteria were standardised. To permit a smooth transition period from a local to a national scheme disable individuals were not immediately reassessed under the new criteria, and could continue to receive free bus travel for a minimum of 12 months. The letter from Transport Scotland explains the detail. (Note: A copy of this letter is included with these minutes). NM 4. Review the Group Agreement At the last meeting a group agreement was drafted. Niall opened the floor to discussion/comment on this first pass. After discussion the draft was approved: 1. Tolerance/respect of other peoples ideas.

3 2. Be on time (and finish on time). 3. Wherever possible, electronic distribution of documents. 4. Distribution of paperwork at least 10 days before meetings. 5. Items for agendas to be submitted at least 2 weeks before. 6. Printed documents to be double sided. 7. Forum details/contact information to be circulated round the group. 8. One person to speak at a time, and a requirement to speak clearly. 9. Keep in confidence internal discussions. 10. Stories may be used to illustrate point, but names are not to be mentioned. 5. Preparation for SPT and First Bus Niall confirmed that all had received copies of SPT s Access to healthcare Implementation Plan and the Route Development Plan from First Bus. The latest copies were distributed. Niall outlined the areas that SPT and First Bus would cover. A period of time was then devoted to crystallising possible questions that could be put to SPT and First Bus after their presentations. 6. Update on West Dunbartonshire Niall took the opportunity to update the Forum on some transport issues in West Dunbartonshire. There are two NHS funded transport initiatives. The Vale of Leven Hospital with the Royal Alexandria Hospital (SPT Bus route 340) and Inverclyde Royal Hospital to the Royal Alexandria Hospital (SPT Bus route 350). The numbers using these services are low. However, the NHS remains committed to providing a hospital link service to the Royal Alexandria Hospital and it can be assumed that current funding level will remain in place.

4 Daniel Connelly, a recently appointed Community Engagement Manager within the Team will be working with Community Planning Transport members regarding option. Some ideas to improve the services and increase the numbers using the services are: a. Spend the funding on Community Transport solutions. b. Leave as is, but actively promote and advertise the services. c. Seek additional funding to expand the service and attract more utilisation. d. Change the routes to more popular areas and increase the number of pick-up points. The buses in use are fully accessible, low floor. Feedback is that the drivers are courteous and aware of our passenger needs. Later this year, in response to public request, we will route the IRH/RAH through Kilmacolm on a trial basis and assess whether this makes any improvement. If not, we will re-examine the options. The point was raised that any hospital transport service should dovetail into hospital appointments. Niall agreed to raise with the relevant bodies, but the Forum should note that this is a complicated and long term issue. Niall & Daniel will be meeting with West Dunbartonshire Community Planning to examine the 340 for their recommendation to improve the service. To West Dunbartonshire s credit, along with East Dunbartonshire, they have been pro-active in the past in involving Community Planning. NM 7. SPT Keri Stewart, Sustainable Development Manager for SPT Keri gave a presentation on the SPT Draft Access to Healthcare Implementation Plan. This plan is one of a number of supporting pillars to SPT s Regional Transport Strategy. She stressed that the plan was still in draft form and would welcome any comments/feedback from individual/organisations represented by the Form members. Her contact details are:

5 Keri Stewart Sustainable Development Manager Strathclyde Partnership for Transport 10 Killermont Street Glasgow G2 3NW A copy of Keri s presentation is included with these minutes. The Scottish Executive had been due to respond to all the Regional Transport Strategies (RTS) by now, but this had been delayed. The RTSs should all tie in with their respective Local Authority Transport Strategies. Question/Answer Session Barbara: It would be useful to know if specific routes and/or specific buses were low floor (accessible) before leaving the house. Finland achieves this information through a website which is updated daily. Keri agreed. SPT has no authority over bus companies in this respect. It was suggested that this be asked of First Bus later. Niall (on behalf of Douglas): Jim: Jim: Will SPT be introducing an OYSTER (or equivalent) card for use on buses, trains & underground? Keri will find out and get back to the Forum. With the wide range of providers of bus services and a multiplicity of drivers there is a great diversity of diver disability awareness and standards of driver training. Are there standards for driver training and how are these monitored? There are standards and it is the Traffic Commissioner who has responsibility for ensuring compliance. KS

6 Jim: Can SPT consider the use of signs, pictures and symbols in literature and for conveying public transport information (for instance at bus stops). People with disabilities, particularly with sight and reading find this easier to understand. Keri agreed to raise this issue with SPT Access Are there any new planned routes for buses, or changes to existing routes, that would take buses into hospitals and to make access to hospitals easier? Anne Marie: Agnes: Jim: Niall stated that the new hospitals would be accessible to buses. Some companies will respond positively to this. Much can be achieved through Terms of Agreement, Quality Bus Partnerships/Agreements with bus companies. Over time with, for instance, Hospital Travel Plans staff will be encouraged out of their cars and this will provide more parking spaces for patients. How will the public be informed about the voluntary/community transport services? Through partnership working and dialogue. There are problems with lack of or inadequate bus shelters, particularly at sites for elderly/disabled people. The situation is so bad that there are now waiting lists for second hand bus shelters at many of these sites. Winter is a key problem. What can SPT do? Keri agreed to raise this with SPT & GCC. Concessionary bus fares are often not suitable for wheelchair users. Is there any possibility of having some sort of Taxi Card? KS KS

7 Niall commented that the money put into the concessionary bus fare scheme, if divided by the eligible population would give an individual allocation of something like 100 per person/year. If this was made available in card form for use with all transport providers (including taxi and community & ferry) then the benefit of this initiative would be truly inclusive. Keri agreed to raise with SPT and through them to the Scottish executive. James: Building works/road works often caused problems to buses and bus drivers with regards to disabled access to buses. What can SPT do alleviate this? Barbara: Alec: Thank You Keri stated that all such work should be cleared through Councils. There is an SPT Reference Group who takes an interest in these types of issues. Barbara wished to express her thanks for recent action taken by SPT against those who have been parking illegally in bus only areas. There are some ferry terminals where the steepness of the access, etc makes it dangerous/impossible for disabled access. Can SPT undertake an audit and put in place an action plan to correct. Keri agreed to take this back to SPT Niall thanked Keri for her presentation and her answers to the various questions posed. He looked forward to providing back to the Forum SPTs responses to those issues that Keri was taking away. When this strategy has been approved by the Board of SPT, it will be linked under the TAF Section of the NHS GG&C website. KS KS CD 8. First Bus Chris Carberry & Eddie McSheffrey

8 Chris Carberry gave an overview of First Glasgow s Bus Route Development Plan, concentrating on areas that dealt with Access to Healthcare. The web link to this is: df This was the first time that First, or any other bus company had attempted to put together such a plan. First had consulted extensively with GCC as being the major stakeholder in the preparation of this plan, but were now embarking on a series of discussions with Local Authorities and other public bodies and relevant groups to refine the plan and make adjustments if required. Essentially, the plan has three elements. a. Section 1 Plans that will be taken forward. b. Plans that are likely to be enacted (after consultation) from October c. Longer term plans/aspirations, many of which will be dependant on Scottish Executive Bus Route Development Grants. The key section for this Forum is 4.11 Access to Healthcare. First did concede that buses were not always the ideal solution to transport problems and that Community Transport, as a prime example of low volume and or door-to-door, had its place within the transport infrastructure. First would welcome any comments on its plan. His contact details are: Chris Carberry First Glasgow 197 Victoria Rd Glasgow Lanarkshire G42 7AD Question/Answer Session The Forum welcomed the First Plan and was supportive of its intentions. Barbara: The Finland model of providing accessible bus route information on websites/timetables, etc. Was First aware of this system and could they adopt it?

9 Jim: Barbara: First were aware of the Finland model. 70% of First Glasgow s buses were now of the low floor accessible type. A further 20 buses were coming into service this year. On a rolling basis First aims to make routes 100% low level, but until the fleet is fully modernised/replaced (about 2017) they can not guarantee that through breakdowns, vandalism, maintenance requirement, etc that a low level route will always have low level buses for 100% of the time. There are no plans at present to adopt the Finland model of providing Accessible information to the public. But he will take this issue back to First. The intention is that shortly all Sunday services will be low level. On the question of driver training. More time is required on disability awareness and thereafter on the enforcement of standards. There is a great deal of variation between the drivers and between routes. Once area of particular concern was the driver interpretation over buggies, prams, wheelchairs, etc. Barbara noted that some First drivers were really helpful, some are not. What training was given regarding disabilities? Chris agreed, and stated that these aspects were all covered in driver training. Drivers received regular training refreshers. He requested that if passengers had complaints/observations then they should report the incidents. The details on a ticket would provide the passenger with all the information the company requires to identify the bus and driver. Thistle card initiative Some drivers know about it and some don t accept it. Chris would relay this back to the trainers. CC All Forum Members to note CC

10 Alec: Agnes: Barbara: Niall: A question was raised over the re-introduction/re-issue of Thistle Cards. The Forum was unsure if the Scottish Executive had plans to continue with the scheme. Agnes agreed that she would monitor this for the Forum. The Forum also believed that there was no funding within the scheme for monitoring. The understanding was that was being addressed through Enable. Should there be a re-introduction/re-issue of Thistle Cards First will fully participate. This is currently with the Scottish Executive. There is a concern of the number/type of cards that passengers carry. This can cause confusion the drivers some confusion. Cards need to be simple to ensure that the message they deliver is recognised. Was there a First bus from Helensburgh to the Vale of Leven hospital? First fund a bus on this route. First also understand that McGiles may also have a bus on this route from September. Agnes had an observation regarding the provision of seat belts, grips, arm-rests for the disabled spaces on buses. The inclusion of the horizontal bar system for the disabled space would be ideal, but these are not installed on Glasgow buses Chris responded that buses were designed to DDA licence and signed off by the Department of Transport inspectors. If seat belts were provided then it becomes the responsibility of the driver to ensure that all passengers were buckled-up before moving off. This would cause chaos within a public transport system. AM AM

11 Thank You If the Scottish executive is spending money on buses it might be helpful to have people writing in regarding routes and topics such as Bus Route Development Grants. In addition, writing to MSP would also be welcomed. Fist confirmed that they would also welcome comment and support from MSPs and members of the public. Niall thanked Chris for First s presentation and the answers to the various questions posed. Forum members 9. Future Agendas Niall opened discussion to the Forum and there were suggestion of: a. SPT: Dial-a-Bus. b. SAS: Patient Transport c. Community Transport The decision was SAS & Community Transport. Before the next meeting it was agreed that a visit to a Community Operator would be organised. In addition, Anne Marie Kennedy offered to provide some feedback/information of Volunteer Drivers. 10. AOCB Date of next Meeting: This is scheduled for 30 th October. However, there were some that indicated they might not be able to attend and this allied with the possibility that Niall may also be absent means that Chris will put out to the Forum some alternatives around the end of October/early November. Media Consent Forms: Over lunch some members of the Forum agreed to their photographs being taken and signed the relevant consent forms. Expenses Payment Forms:

12 Daniel got members to sign these forms over lunch. Those not present, or who did not return a form to Daniel will receive one through the post for completion and return as soon as possible to enable processing of the expenses payment. 11. Date of Next Meeting The provisional date for the next meeting is: 30 th October 2007 (TBC) 11.00am, Dalian House Future Meetings: The proposal for : 29 January April July 2008 to be discussed.