How Transport Supports Health and Social Care

Argyll & Bute has many types of transport that help people get to health and social care services. When we speak to communities, people often tell us that transport makes it hard for them to get the care they need.

Transport is also an important part of the Argyll and Bute Outcomes Improvement Plan 2024–2034, which is a 10‑year plan.

Some types of transport people use include:

• Public buses and other public transport
• Community transport (some funded by us, some funded by the community)
• Community groups that run their own transport
• Volunteer drivers
• Help from family or friends
• Taxis
• Transport provided by services, like day services

Patient Transport is provided by the Scottish Ambulance Service. This is only for people who meet certain rules. It is not a replacement for public transport or community transport.

In 2026–27, we will take part in an NHS Highland review to look at how patient transport is funded and see if it can work better.

There are times when we must provide transport for you. You may get transport because of the type of care you receive, how often you need to travel, or because of certain laws.

Your health or social work professional, or someone who cares for you, may arrange this for you.

As part of our budget review, we must look at how we fund local transport and decide how to use our money to support essential health and social care services.

In our questionnaire we will ask you

- Will community transport changes affect you?

- Will proposals affect your ability to get care?

Find out more in the Frequently Asked Questions.

Please take part in our questionnaire and have your say.