V Cars has offered free rides to help roll out the COVID-19 vaccine to elderly and vulnerable patients across Chippenham.

GP practices across Wiltshire are taking their first steps in the process to tackle the pandemic by vaccinating the elderly and vulnerable in the local community.

V Cars are now working with participating GP practices to offer rides to people who have been invited to make a vaccination appointment, if they have no other means of transport.

The offer provides a safe private hire journey to the vaccination centre, and the patient has the option to book a safe journey home too.

For ease, the telephone operators at the participating GP surgeries will co-ordinate the free journey with the V Cars dispatch centre using a dedicated web-based booking system.

The system is designed to ensure that only the eligible persons who need it get access to the free rides.

Jack Price, Regional Director of V Cars, said: “In these first few weeks of the programme, we are helping to assist the first wave of people get their vaccinations. For those who don’t have another means of transport we want to help our local community beat COVID.”

“We don’t want to bring any additional pressure on the NHS or GP practices and it’s vital that people do not call their GPs or NHS asking about free rides.

"Our offer is strictly on appointment only for those persons who are eligible.”

FREE RIDES 🎉🚖 We've got some great news to brighten up your Monday! V Cars are providing FREE transport to and from...

Posted by V Cars on Monday, 11 January 2021

“We are also exploring the option of fixed rates and reduced fares for future waves of people who are invited for their vaccination. Even if you are not eligible for the free journey, we may be able to help you.

"This might be a useful option as public transport services are being reduced.”

For further details please visit: www.v-cars.com/covid-19/passengers/