News
New Telephone Number!
Over the next few months, from September 2024, we will be trialling a new telephone system for contacting LINK.
The landline system we have been using has become increasingly expensive, so in order to save the charity money we are hoping to use a mobile phone instead. While our co-ordinators, volunteers and clients get used to the new system, we will be running both the old landline number, 01672 564930, and the new mobile one, 07899 484561, in tandem. Gradually, though, we intend to switch entirely to the mobile number.
We’ll be updating our publicity materials and the website accordingly, and will let you know when the switchover is complete later this year.
Tuesday, 16th May 2023
What3words: Help For Drivers To Find An Address
One of our drivers has suggested it could be a good idea to use what3words to find client addresses. This is a brilliant little app for your mobile phone: it has given every square metre of the globe its own identifying three words. King Alfred’s statue in Pewsey, for instance, is located at iteration.moods.calendars.
Of course it will only work if, as well as the driver having the app on their phone, the client has it on theirs and can give a three word locator for their home to the LINK co-ordinator when they book their journey. But the app has literally been a life-saver for some people in the past, when they have had an accident in a remote spot and needed to call emergency services, and I’d encourage everyone to put it on their mobile phone if they can. Go to your phone’s app store and search for what3words to install it – it doesn’t cost anything, and it’s very intuitive to use.
Wednesday, 12th April 2023
Hospital Parking – A Quick Update
Always a thorny issue, it can seem as if every hospital in the area operates a slightly different parking policy for LINK drivers. Increasingly, many are outsourcing their parking to private contractors, who are using number-plate recognition schemes to catch out the unwary. One of our volunteer drivers was caught out recently on a visit to a hospital where the system had recently changed, and was issued with a parking ticket. When he tried to appeal the fine on the grounds that he was a LINK driver, the appeal was disallowed by the company operating the scheme.
The moral of the story is always go and book in as a LINK driver with the hospital’s reception desk. They can verify what their current system is for LINK drivers, and that should give you back-up proof you don’t need to pay. And please, let the co-ordinators know if you have trouble of any kind parking.
The good news is that Wiltshire County Council have undertaken to try to persuade all hospitals in our area to adopt a common parking policy for LINK drivers. But in the meantime, don’t forget to book in at reception whenever you take a LINK client to a hospital!
Tuesday, 11th April 2023
COVID UPDATE for drivers, co-ordinators and passengers
Government policy is now that we must learn to live safely with COVID-19, but there are actions we can all take to reduce the risk of catching the virus and passing it on to others. Vaccinations are very effective at preventing serious illness from COVID-19 but, even if you are vaccinated, there remains a chance that you can catch it, or another respiratory disease, and pass it on to other people.
This advice draws on national guidance on the measures and other actions Link volunteers should consider in order to reduce the likelihood of catching and/or passing the virus on to other people. Remember, you may be driving a client who is especially vulnerable to serious illness.
Reducing the Risk of Infection
The symptoms of COVID-19 and some other respiratory infections are very similar. It may not be possible to tell what infection you or another person has although the illness is likely to be mild. If you have any of the following symptoms, or do not feel well enough to carry on with normal activities, you are advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people… which would include not using the Link service:
- Continuous cough
- High temperature, fever or chills
- Loss of taste or smell
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained tiredness or lack of energy
- Muscle aches and pains not due to exercise
- Loss of appetite
- Long standing headache
- Sore throat or runny nose
If you are concerned about these symptoms you should phone the NHS helpline or contact your GP.
Many people will no longer be infectious to others after 5 days, but the risk to others may last up to 10 days, and it is important that volunteers inform the co-ordinator that they are unwell and not available for this longer period.
When a client calls the co-ordinators to request a service, the co-ordinator must specifically ask whether they have any of the COVID-19 symptoms.
Volunteer drivers should consider positive personal hygiene practices including the washing of hands before and after any trip, sanitising their car with spray or wipes and reducing physical contact with clients.