SOUTH Wiltshire's community link schemes are preparing for an increase in their workload following changes in the car service run by Salisbury District Hospital.

There are fears among many of the voluntary drivers, who are mostly retired, that they could soon find themselves working full-time again as more patients find they cannot get a hospital car to take them to and from the hospital.

Hospital bosses have changed the system in which hospital cars are used by patients because there have been occasions when the system has been abused.

Now hospital cars will only be available to patients who have a genuine medical need.

A spokesman for Salisbury health care trust said: "We have changed the way the medical need criteria are applied because the medical need system has, on occasions, been used when there is no clear medical need or justification for someone to receive non-urgent patient transport.

"For instance, we know that some people are able to, and happy to, use public transport, taxi or friends and relatives when they go out or go shopping but have used non-urgent patient transport to go to and from hospital.

"If they are able to do this, then we should not be providing transport."

But one voluntary driver said he and other drivers were worried they would be "lumbered with a lot more work".

The driver, who asked not to be named, said: "We are retired volunteers and, if we are not careful, we shall be working five days a week, full-time."

Marion Mason, project manager for the link project Community First, said: "We are already getting calls from people who have been refused a hospital car service.

"We are a voluntary service and can only do what our volunteers are capable of doing. We are not in a position to absorb a lot more extra work.

"It is concerning us because we have not got link schemes in every area.

"We are concerned at the impact on vulnerable sections of the community. Health work is growing and getting to and from hospital is difficult if you live in remote rural areas."

Ms Mason said that, often, there were few alternative means of transport and hospital bosses must not think that bus services were always an alternative, as many areas did not have services.

But, she said, she was in continuous dialogue with the hospital and with south Wiltshire primary care trust.

She added: "I have said people can be directed towards the link on the proviso that, if it becomes a problem, we shall be talking to them.

"I just want the hospital trust and the primary care trust to view us as partners."