Kilbryde Hospice has unveiled its new minibus which will transport seriously ill people they care for.

Hospice staff and officials from the Royal Bank of Scotland were at the official unveiling of the new minibus, which will be used to pick up and drop off patients at their homes as well as used for outings and activities for them.

The hospice, which serves South Lanarkshire, applied to the Royal Bank of Scotland which granted the £32,610 needed to purchase the wheelchair accessible minibus.

Many of the patients living with life-limiting illnesses are unable to access public transport and the minibus allows them to travel in a safe manner.

Margaret Mary Cowan, Clinical Services Manager for the hospice, said. “To have a fully accessible minibus allows our patients who require transport to access our services; this is often a lifeline to them. Many of our patient’s first point of contact are with the driver of the bus and the passenger assistant and for some patients this may be the first people they have come into contact with since their last visit to the hospice.”

Margaret Kennedy Regional Director of Business Banking Scotland said. “The hospice, which serves South Lanarkshire, was awarded a grant from the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2014 to purchase the wheelchair accessible minibus and we are delighted to be able to assist the hospice to carry out their work within our communities. The last time I was at the hospice I was wearing a hard hat and viewing a building site, so to be able to see a magnificent new hospice building, its only fitting that they have a new minibus to assist them in the great work that they do around the patients and their families.“

Gordon McHugh, Chief Executive for the hospice said: “The bus is amazing and a true asset to the hospice. We would truly like to thank the Royal Bank of Scotland for not only funding the minibus but for their on-going support to Kilbryde Hospice and the patients, carers and families we serve and, of course, on-going thanks to the volunteer drivers and passenger assistants who give up their time to provide safe and reliable transport for our patients.”

Pictured L-R are: Gordon McHugh, Chief Executive at Kilbryde Hospice; Jack Malcolm, Relationship Manager at RBS; Lianne McCardie, Business Growth Enabler for Lanarkshire at RBS; Brian Johnston, Facilities & Transport Assistant at Kilbryde Hospice; Lynsay Bain, Day Services Manager at Kilbryde Hospice; Margaret Kennedy, Regional Director of Business Banking Scotland at RBS and Margaret Mary Cowan, Clinical Services Manager at Kilbryde Hospice.