Highland 4x4 Response Group is a registered charity made up of volunteers who can be asked to use their 4x4 vehicles to transport people, such as home carers, NHS medical staff and other emergency services or to transport essential equipment in times of need.
And the Health Board has now signed a Memorandum of Understanding with this group.
NHS Highland Emergency Planning Officer, Peter MacPhee, explained that this means NHS Highland can now approach the group directly for assistance, whereas it previously had to go through Northern Constabulary, which signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the charity about 18 months ago.
He said: “A number of similar groups exist across Scotland and in several cases, they have agreements in place with their respective Health Boards. NHS Highland is very pleased that it now has an agreement with Highland 4x4 Response Group.
“The severe weather we have experienced over the last two winters demonstrates the type of situations that can arise where this type of assistance would be invaluable.”
Andrew Knox, who is Chair of Highland 4x4 Response Group, said the group has 19 active members with vehicles, who can be called upon to help at any time.
They are currently located at Alness, Dalwhinnie, Dingwall, Drumnadrochit, Evanton, Halkirk, Inverfarigaig, Inverness, Lybster, Muir of Ord, Nairn and Strathpeffer.
He said: “We’re a group of people who are trying to help the community. We’re volunteers - we only get mileage – and we do it as a service to try to help people in need. If we can help one person or save a life, it makes it all worthwhile.”
Ends
Notes to editors:-
The functions of Highland 4x4 Response Group are limited to:-
• The transportation of a member of staff to a patient’s home address or other premises where there is a need for healthcare assistance in order to mitigate a potential emergency.
• The transportation of a chronically unwell patient who is life dependant on clinical interventions and cannot get to premises to receive treatment.
• The transportation of staff to their place of work during severe weather or during periods of exceptional circumstances where NHS Highland business continuity is compromised.
• The collection and delivery of equipment or supplies to locations where there is an urgent need.
Highland 4x4 Response Group does not provide a taxi service, nor is it a breakdown or recovery service, and its members are only called out following a request from the emergency services, local authority and charitable groups in Highland with which the group has a Memorandum of Understanding.
