THE Dial-a-Journey transport service in Stirling has stepped in to help student nurses during the coronavirus crisis.

The charity is offering free lifts to student nurses who need to get to placements but have been hit by reductions to bus and train services.

Lynn Maher, from the Stirling University Students’ Union, said: “The union sabbatical officers noticed that several student nurses had posted on social media about how difficult it was to get to placements using public transport, so we got in touch with Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise to see how they could help.

“They suggested we get in touch with Dial-a-Journey and within no time at all, we had a solution to the problem.

“Nurses can now book a journey in advance to match their shift pattern, which is great news.”

Dial-a-Journey normally supports people with mobility issues.

The charity's Heidi Anderson said: “When the union got in touch, we were only too happy to help the students out.

“We’ll be transporting no more than nine nurses at a time, observing the two metre rule and will be sanitising the bus between journeys to keep them safe.

“The nurses will also be bagging their uniform before getting on the bus and the university sports centre has donated shoe covers to minimise the risk of transmission.”

Natalie Masterson, of Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise (SVE), added: “When we were contacted by the University of Stirling’s Students’ Union regarding the transport issues some of the student nurses were struggling with, we knew that there was an organisation that could possibly help.

“It was just a matter of making the connections and Dial-a-Journey have been fantastic at stepping up and giving their time.

“Finding local solutions to local issues is the best way to solve some of the problems we are currently facing and it’s truly heart-warming to see so many positive examples of people working together to face this head on.”

Local organisations looking for support during the pandemic can get in touch with SVE via info@sventerprise.org.uk or call 01786 430 000.