
MORAY COUNCIL HAS responded to calls for a transport system that would allow residents in several communities to keep same-day medical appointments.
The move to an improved Dial-A-Bus service is being introduced this month for people living in Garmouth, Kingston, Mosstodloch and Fochabers.
At present the system is that bookings for the service must be made no later than the previous day – leaving those who are allocated last-minute medical appointments at the Fochabers Medical Centre struggling to keep them.
A Council spokesman said that wherever possible same-day requests from Garmouth and Kingston will be met: “We cannot guarantee availability and we would ask people to make bookings at least the day before wherever possible.”
Local Labour councillor Sean Morton welcomed the decision, saying: “When residents raised this issue with me a couple of months ago I asked council officers to try to ensure people could call Dial-A-Bus on the day and get to their emergency GP appointments.
“It is not an easy task to manage the logistics of that so I am very grateful to everyone who has worked hard to make this possible.
“It is such a relief that people will be able to get from Garmouth and Kingston to their emergency GP appointments. That is one less worry for them when something is wrong.”