Book now for Kapiti Health Shuttle

The Kapiti Health Shuttle is now being operated by ASK - A Safe Kapiti, based at Paraparaumu Beach.

The health shuttle, a payment-by-donation service providing transport for Kapiti people to Wellington and Kenepuru hospitals, used to be run by the Red Cross for a number of years until it abandoned the service recently, stating it was not financially sustainable to operate.

But ASK, supported by funding from Kapiti Medical Services (KMS) Trust, formerly operating as Kapiti EMS, threw the service a lifeline and took over officially on Monday last week.

ASK general manager Kim Nye-Picknell, pictured, said the aim was to increase patronage, which had been waning, and boost publicity about the service.

"We want people to use it."

ASK decided not to take over the eight-seater Ford Transit van instead opting for an 11-seater LDV van which Kim sourced from a Palmerston North dealer.

The new van is more user friendly -- it is automatic instead of manual, has an electric step making it easier for people to get on and off the van, and hand rails.

About 80 per cent of the drivers have been retained.

Kim said ASK will be strengthening the relationship with the hospitals especially to try and incorporate appointment times between 10am and 11am Monday to Thursday, which would help reduce timeframes for users.

She said there were sponsorship options for businesses to have their names on the shuttle.

To book a ride on the shuttle phone 04 297 3142.