committee report

MyBus service : revised procedures for eligibility assessment

Committee : Operations Date of Meeting: 6 May 2011 Date of Report: 21 April 2011 Report by Assistant Chief Executive (Operations) 1. Object of report To recommend the Committee approves the revisions to procedures for assessing

applications for use of the MyBus service. This report affects all council areas. 2. Background SPT’s MyBus service provides demand-responsive transport (DRT) links for the elderly and /

or disabled throughout the SPT area. Use of the service is contingent upon applicants being able to satisfy eligibility criteria

which were designed to recognise that certain groups are either unable to or have great difficulty in using mainstream local bus services.

Eligibility for use of MyBus is automatic if any of the following applies :

(a) being in receipt of any one of Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (mobility component at the higher rate) or War Pensioners’ mobility supplement;

(b) being registered blind;

(c) being aged 80 or over. It has always been recognised by SPT that, even if none of the above applies, there may still be individuals who find great difficulty in accessing standard public transport modes and, for that reason, has always facilitated applications based upon supplementary information provided by the individual concerned, which was then passed to the local health board for adjudication to determine whether, in fact, a genuine condition existed which made use of the MyBus service appropriate. The local health boards have carried out such assessments for SPT free of charge for many years. In 2010, however, the various local NHS divisions notified SPT that they intended to withdraw this facility and suggested that alternative arrangements be made.

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Having initially been informed by NHS Ayrshire & Arran of its intention to withdraw the service from April 2010, SPT contacted NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHSGGC) to determine whether it could perhaps take on the relatively low number of applications involved along with those of its own area. However, NHSGGC responded in February 2010 that, it too now intended to withdraw its own service to SPT.

Discussions took place with NHSGGC in March 2010 and it was agreed that SPT should write to the former to request that the decision be revisited, given the clear shared interests of both parties in continuing to facilitate access to transport for those members of the community who might otherwise find considerable difficulty in doing so. The NHS itself has identified access to transport as a key element in enabling people to remain active and avoid long-term health problems.

After prolonged discussions, the NHS eventually declined to reverse its decision to discontinue the service it had previously offered and, as an interim measure, SPT has been granting temporary MyBus memberships to those applicants affected by this problem, given the expectation that there might be a resolution which would have seen resumption of the assessment service by the NHS. Clearly, however, that was not sustainable in the long term and it was necessary to consider an alternative mechanism for assessment of applications not meeting the automatic qualifying criteria.

3. Proposals To address the problem, SPT has now designed a form which enables applicants to provide

supplementary information in support of an application for MyBus membership. The form features a range of simple questions geared to determining what mobility issues

might exist for an individual which impair his or her ability to use mainstream public transport. The form also requests access to the applicant’s GP, if necessary, for the purposes of obtaining any required information.

For the information of members, further details are contained in attachments to this paper

and include : (a) MyBus information / application booklet;

(b) Standard letter for cases where the individual fails to meet the automatic criteria, but inviting supplementary information in support of the application;

(c) Form MB1 for completion by applicants in (b);

(d) Letter of acceptance following assessment of MB1.

Subject to the committee’s approval of this report, details of the revised arrangements will

be passed to all Chief Executives of SPT’s constituent authorities for information purposes.

4. Consequences

Policy consequences: None.

Legal consequences: None.

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Financial consequences: None.

Personnel consequences: None.

Social inclusion: Facilitates accessible transport for individuals affected by mobility issues.

Risk consequences: None. 5. Committee action The Committee is recommended to note and agree the revised procedures for MyBus

applications. Eric Stewart Assistant Chief Executive (Operations)

Gordon Maclennan Chief Executive

for further information please contact Alex Scott, Bus Services Manager on ext 3388

For more information visit spt.co.uk/mybus or any SPT travel centre

M1 East Ayrshire M10 Dumbarton M11 Inverclyde M12 Irvine M13 South Ayrshire M14 KilmarnockM15 East KilbrideM18 Maryhill/Bearsden M19 Wishaw/ShottsM22 Saltcoats/Ardrossan/StevenstonM32/M42 Beith/Dalry/Largs/West KilbrideM45/M65/M85 Renfrew/Houston/Johnstone/PaisleyM90 CumbernauldM91 Glasgow South WestM92 Clydebank/Scotstoun M93 Glasgow North East M94 Glasgow South EastM96 HamiltonM98 MotherwellM99 Monklands

0845 128 40230845 125 98110845 125 98120845 125 98130845 125 98140845 125 99520845 125 99530845 125 99540845 125 99560845 125 9958 0845 125 9958

0845 125 98070845 125 99570845 125 97740845 125 98040845 125 98050845 125 98060845 125 98080845 125 98090845 125 9810

Booking line telephone numbers

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Contents

What is MyBus 2

Who qualifies to use MyBus? 3

To apply for MyBus 4

Application form 5

Data Protection Act 7

New user guide 8

What is MyBus?MyBus is designed to help people of all ages who have difficulty usingstandard buses to have access to local facilities and amenities.

It can be used for:• shopping• visiting friends• attending local clubs• doctor and health centre appointments• hospital visiting.

MyBus cannot be used for hospital appointments as other servicesare available for these purposes. Please contact your GP forassistance.If using MyBus for shopping, please bring only as much shopping as youare able to carry yourself. Remember you can always take an escort.MyBus can take you to and from your local rail station, and many are nowwheelchair-accessible. First ScotRail is happy to arrange help at thestation and you can do this by calling 0800 91 22 901.

All MyBus vehicles are wheelchair-accessible, with low-floor ramp accessat the front of the vehicle. The vehicle will pick up and drop off as close aspossible to your home and destination. The driver will assist you on andoff the bus. If you require additional assistance you can bring a friend ifyou feel their support will help.

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Who qualifies to use MyBus?MyBus is available to people who are unable to use or have difficultyin using standard buses and who meet any of the qualifyingconditions shown.Applicants must hold a valid Scottish Citizens’ National EntitlementCard. If you do not hold a card please contact Strathclyde Partnershipfor Transport’s Travel Card Unit on 0141 333 3211.Applicants who meet any of the conditions listed under 1 to 3 areautomatically eligible to use MyBus.1. Receipt of any one of the following Department for Work and

Pensions allowances:• Attendance allowance• Disability living allowance – mobility component at the higher rate• War pensioners’ mobility supplement (current proof of qualifying

benefit must be provided on application.)OR

2. Registered as blindOR

3. Over 80 years old4. If none of the above apply but you have difficulty using standard

public transport you may still qualify to use MyBus. Please fill outthe application form giving full details of your medical condition.

5. Applicants with a temporary disability (such as a broken leg) mayapply for temporary registration for up to four months.

MyBus Rural is available to anyone travelling within its local area(with no qualifying conditions such as age or disability).Separate leaflets available. Call: 0845 128 4025

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To apply for MyBusTo apply for MyBus either complete and return the attached form or ifyou have difficulty completing the form, telephone our enquiry line on0845 128 4025 and a member of our staff can complete the form foryou. You will still require to provide any documentation required and apassport size photo clearly showing your face. Please note this can bea regular photograph cut to size. Please do not hesitate to call ourenquiry line for further assistance.

Completed application forms should be returned to:

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport MyBus Consort House12 West George StreetGlasgowG2 1HN

Please keep this booklet after sending your application form as itcontains valuable information.

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Application formTitle/Surname

Forenames

Date of birth

Address

Town

Post Code

Tel no

e-mail

Mobile no

1. Do you have a concessionary travel card?

If yes, what is the travel card number?

What category is it?

Is this a companion card?

2. Do you receive any of these Department of Work and Pensions allowances?

(a)Attendance allowance

(b)Disability living allowancemobility component (higher rate)

(c) War pensioners’ mobility supplement

Are you in receipt of any of these allowances?If yes, please provide current proof of this when completing yourapplication.

/ /

Pleaseremember to

enclosea current

photograph

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Yes No

Disabled Blind Elderly

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

ChecklistHave you completed all sections of the application form?Enclosed proof of allowances? (if applicable)Enclosed a photograph?

2b. Are you registered blind?Blind registration number

3. Are you 80 years old or over?

4. Do you have profound hearing difficulties

5. Do you use a wheelchair?

6. Do you have a guide dog?

7. Do you have a walking stick or a walking frame?

8. Do you need to take an escort?What is the medical condition that prevents you using, or makes itvery difficult for you to use public transport?

Doctor’s name

Doctor’s Details

Tel no:

Please read the following information carefully before signing:I declare that I am unable to use or have great difficulty using public transport.The answers that I have given are a true statement of my circumstances and Iconsent to further information being sought from my doctor or hospitalconsultant or to undergo a medical examination should this be considerednecessary.I consent to the processing by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport of mypersonal data (including sensitive personal data) shown in, and for the purposesoutlined in, the information notice contained within this leaflet.Applicant’s signature Date

/ /

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Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Tick

Data Protection Act 1998Under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998 (“the Act”), StrathclydePartnership for Transport, as data controller, is required to provide you, thedata subject, with notice of the kind of data that we will be/are processingabout you, the purposes for which we will be/are processing your data, thesource of the data that we process and third parties to whom we maytransfer your data.We process the following personal data:• personal details such as name, address and date of birth• details relating to health• employment details.We process the above data for the following purposes:• to administer the MyBus scheme• to make decisions relating to eligibility under the scheme• to develop improvements to the scheme• to develop new schemes• to monitor the effectiveness and efficiency of the scheme• market research and analysis• training and testing purposes.In carrying out the above purposes we may transfer personal data relatingto you to the following third parties:• unitary authorities• medical practitioners• social work departments.You will be the principal source of any data that we process. We may,however, also receive information from relevant health professionals.In order to process your application/renewal/replacement for a MyBus card it may be necessary for us to process your sensitive personaldata, in particular data relating to your health. We require your explicitconsent to process such data. Accordingly, you should be aware that bysigning the application form you are providing your explicit consent for usto process your sensitive personal data for the purposes outlined above.As data subject, you have a number of rights under the Act in relation to thedata which we process about you. One of these rights is a subject accessright. In effect this means that you have the right to have a copy of the datawhich we process about you which is held in our computer records and alsosome data which is held in our manual records. If you want to exercise yourright of subject access, or if you have any other data protection queriesrelating to MyBus please contact the Data Protection Officer.

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New Users GuideMaking a booking

• Your booking line number can be found on the front of yourtimetable leaflet or on the inside cover of this leaflet.

• Call your booking office number the day before you want to travelexcept for travel on a Sunday or Monday. For travel on a Monday callon a Friday. For travel on a Sunday call on a Thursday.

• We will attempt to give you journey times as close to the timesyou request. Please remember that the journey times we give youare approximate. In order to accommodate as many trips as wecan we may move your pick up time slightly. If your time is movedby more than 10 minutes earlier or later, we will advise you beforethe booking lines close.

• Sometimes, due to high demand, you may find the line isengaged when you dial. Should you get the engaged tone, pleasehang up and re-dial.

Advance bookings

Please call your booking line after 2pm to arrange your advancebookings.

As well as bookings made in the usual way, MyBus customers maybook up to 4 round trips per calendar month up to 28 days in advance.This may be useful for those important trips.

Group bookings

If there are more than three people regularly travelling to the sameplace at a set time, we will be happy to arrange a group booking,subject to availability. This allows one person from the group to makethe booking for everyone in the party.

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0845 128 4025

Making your tripTo minimise waiting time for all passengers, please be ready a fewminutes before your pick-up time, ready to board your bus.The driver will give any assistance you may require to board the vehiclefrom the pavement and when you leave, from the bus back to thepavement. However, the driver is unable to provide assistance frominside your home to the bus. Please call you booking line after 2pm toarrange your advance bookings.When travelling please remember to bring along your MyBusmembership card and your Scottish Citizens’ National EntitlementCard. Should you lose your MyBus card, please contact us and we willbe happy to arrange a replacement card for you.

Public holiday operationMyBus does not operate on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.

On other public holidays we will advise you of any changes by placingposters on vehicles and leaving newsletters on the vehicle for you tocollect. You can also call our recorded information line, 0845 128 4026.

FaresThe fares per single journey:

Scottish Citizens’ National Entitlement Card Holders travel free. Escorts travelling with Companion Card Holders also travel free. Faresfor all other escorts and children aged 5 to 15 will be confirmed at thetime of travel.

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MyBus enquiry line Tel: 0845 128 4025

spt.co.uk/mybus June 2010