Aside from giving harried commuters more options, online transportation network company Uber will soon be giving elderly patients convenient rides. Uber and Cera, a "London-Based geriatrics setup" are collaborating to give National Health Care Service (NHS) patients access to safer transportation in the UK.
According to The Telegraph, in an effort to curb "record levels of NHS bedblocking," Uber drivers will receive training that will prepare them for driving elderly patients home from the hospital. Ministers call the deal "an interesting and innovative" solution to the hurdles that plague "Britain's aging population."
Uber and Cera will collaborate so Uber drivers can receive "training in disabilities" that will ensure that they are ready to assist customers using cars with wheelchair access. Cera will work with "the country's largest NHS trust and with three local health groups" to give exceptional home care for patients, such as those with dementia and cancer.
The NHS scheme could also mean that Uber drivers will soon be able to drive patients home from the hospital or help carers reach their customers in a timely manner. Cera's co-founder Dr. Ben Maruthappu said that the partnership will help "revolutionize" the link between care and transport services. He added that it could also greatly help improve the lives of families.
Dr. Maruthappu added, "Older people and those with disabilities will now have access to the highest quality drivers, while carers will be able to efficiently travel to ensure they can provide services in the right place at the right time." He added that the collaboration could also help "tackle major challenges in the NHS," along with helping to decrease the instances of "bed-blocking and delayed discharges" while also providing patients with "high-quality and efficient care."
Cera already offers a service that lets family members easily "book a carer online." The service also lets family members check if their loved ones are receiving proper care.
Once the plan takes motion, it will cover at least five million people all over north London, along with five hospitals that are managed by Barts Health NHS Trust. Individuals can also have Uber drivers deliver "paid-for-care" by Cera to locations in London.
Jo Bertram, Uber's regional general manager, has announced that Uber aims to give everyone access to "reliable, safe, and affordable transportation," per Venture Beat. Because of the Uber-Cera partnership, the company's dream will slowly become a reality, Bertram continued. The regional general manager concluded, "Simply by tapping a button on our app, carers will be able to get to people quickly and efficiently, while those with mobility needs will have the freedom to get out and about."
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