The North West Driving Assessment Service (NWDAS) based in St Helens, Merseyside, has launched two new outreach schemes at community fire stations in Liverpool, enabling increased access to driving and adaptation assessments alongside home fire safety guidance.
With a team of Occupational Therapists and Approved Driving Instructors, NWDAS is delivered by Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (Bridgewater) and overseen by the charity, Driving Mobility. Driving Mobility accredits twenty independent organisations which offer professional support and driving assessments to people who need to gain, or retain, the ability to drive following a diagnosis involving impairment or disability.
Following the success of a recently launched outreach scheme in Leyland, Lancashire, NWDAS is now officially offering independent driving and adaptation assessments at Netherton and Crosby Fire Station and Bellevale Fire Station, both in Liverpool. As part of this new arrangement, NWDAS clients visiting the two new Merseyside services will be able to access free home fire safety guidance combined with advice about how to stay safe and well at home.
Rebecca Jones, NWDAS Team Leader, comments: “We are proud to have a strong working relationship with partner organisations in local communities and by locating our services within community fire stations we can become even more accessible to the public. The two additional Merseyside locations will provide a reduction in travel time for many people living in the region. Outreach locations not only provide a greater choice of venue but increase availability for assessment appointments as well, which we hope will encourage more people to seek professional driving information and gain specialist advice.”
Rebecca concludes: “As with all Driving Mobility Centres, we always endeavour to ensure the provision of high-quality services and information, and we are delighted to be linking our assessments with an opportunity for clients to gain valuable fire safety advice.”
Assessments are free when referred by healthcare professionals, the DVLA and Motability. Alternatively, individuals can make a self-referral to the service via the main centre in Haydock, at a cost of £50.
To find out more about the support available from The North West Driving Assessment Centre visit www.bridgewater.nhs.uk/northwestdrivingassessmentservice or call 01942 483713.
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Pictured: Hilary Kay, Specialist Occupational Therapist and Martin Vivers Approved Driving Instructor