Free transport offered to NHS workers in parts of the UK
Various regions of the UK are making public transport available to NHS staff for free amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Notably, healthcare workers can get free bus travel throughout Wales as part of a new package of funding for transport operators, worth up to £69m, green-lit by the Welsh Government during the nationwide lockdown.
Free transport is already being offered to NHS employees on all Transport for Wales trains.
Welsh transport Minister Ken Skates said of the financial support: "Our rail franchise provider, bus companies and community transport operators – many of which are small businesses and charities – are facing significant financial challenges.
"This support will give public transport operators the initial funding they need to continue to deliver services, pay employees and sub-contractors, while we work with them to develop a comprehensive package of measures to secure an efficient, sustainable, and robust bus network.”
In the Scottish Highlands, bus company Stagecoach is also offering free travel for NHS staff in the Inverness area going to or from Raigmore Hospital and New Craigs between 7-10pm.
The dial-a-bus service needs to be booked no later than the day before travel.
Eligible workers are told to contact Stagecoach on highland.enquiries@stagecoachbus.com.
“We continue to play a crucial role in ensuring that key workers, such as NHS staff and the people vital to the food supply chain, can get into work,” said David Beaton, managing director for Stagecoach Highland.
“We have worked hard with our temporary timetables to ensure that we are continuing to serve critical routes. If our customers feel we haven’t got things quite right, then we’d really like to receive any comments through our dedicated feedback form which can be found at stagecoachbus.com.”
In London, NHS staff can hire bikes from the Santander cycle scheme for free during the pandemic.
Uber has also said it will give away hundreds of thousands of free trips and meals to NHS staff working on the frontlines during the coronavirus outbreak.
The taxi and food delivery company said that as of Monday 30 March, it will offer 200,000 complimentary trips and 100,000 meals to medical staff in order to support them while they work with patients who have been infected by Covid-19.
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