SPT has enjoyed huge success at this year's Scottish Transport Awards.

Our ground-breaking Access to Healthcare initiative impressed the judges, who gave it top marks in the Best Transport Integration category.

We were also Highly Commended in the Best Transport Partnership of the Year Award for our Bus Action Plan and Bus Wardens Scheme.

SPT has been working with the NHS to help improve transport access to hospitals, surgeries and clinics.

As part of the scheme, Travel Plans have been produced covering 40,000 healthcare workers across Lanarkshire, Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Ayrshire and Arran health boards, as well as the Golden Jubilee hospital in Clydebank.

A system is also being piloted whereby personal journey plans are issued to patients alongside their hospital appointment letters.

The project, which has been launched in partnership with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Traveline Scotland, currently covers north Glasgow but will eventually be rolled out across Strathclyde.

SPT Chair Alistair Watson picked up the award on behalf of our Sustainable Development team at a ceremony in the Crowne Plaza in Glasgow on Wednesday.

He said: "The Access to Healthcare award is in no small part down to 'Joining up Journeys'. The public have asked for better integration and we have responded.

"It is the first such integration initiative to be run in Scotland and this award is an indication of just how far we have come."

Rodney Mortimer, SPT's Director of Policy and Strategy, said: "From a standing start a couple of years ago, the team has developed new and innovative ways of linking health and transport, and have become the national leaders in this extremely important field. Well done to everyone involved."

SPT has been working to drive up standards in bus transportation and the success of our Bus Action Plan and Bus Wardens Scheme was also recognised.

Councillor Watson said: "The commendation for our Bus Action Plan shows that the initiative has been moving fast.

"It's still embryonic but we will be putting more meat on the bones of that.

"The credit really has to go the staff involved. They have put a lot of hard work into making it a success."

Eric Stewart, SPT Director of Bus Operations, said: "It was very pleasing to see SPT being Highly Commended for its Bus Wardens Scheme.

"This is obviously very encouraging for the team as it acknowledges that we are now making a big difference to the quality of bus services, but most importantly on a daily basis we're making it better for bus passengers."

Niall McGrogan, Head of Community Engagement and Transport at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: "We are delighted about this award and the recognition of the excellent partnership working between the NHS in the West of Scotland and SPT to improve access to healthcare facilities.

"It highlights how much we have achieved to date and that by working closely together we are able to implement innovative solutions for patients, visitors and staff travelling to our hospitals."

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