London Hire, which provides rental solutions for cars, light commercial vehicles and accessible minibuses, has been working with local councils to provide support vehicles to assist with Covid-19 vaccinations.
One of its most recent deliveries has been to Lambeth Council. Area Sales Manager John Shier explained: “Since the start of the year, we have been converting and hiring to our customers mobile support vehicles, for the purpose of Covid-19 awareness, testing and administering of vaccine doses, to councils around the country. A number of months ago I started a vehicle conversion project with Lambeth Council and we have now launched the vehicle officially within the borough, as a Health & Wellbeing support vehicle, not just prioritising Covid-19 but also geared up ready to support Lambeth borough residents in all manner of health-related topics and areas that the council want to promote. The vehicle conversions started from our ‘standard’ London Hire accessible coachbuilt vehicle specification, with full climate control, fully flat floor, underfloor tail-lift and sensory lighting.”
Alongside this, the firm added four tables with protective perspex screens, eight seats, window blinds, an inverter to run six double electrical sockets with USB charging, a back up mains charging with hook up, anti-bacterial fogging machine, a 32-inch outward-facing TV monitor and bespoke stand, cooler unit and a full vehicle wrap.
John continued: “In regard to medical equipment, the vehicle was fully equipped to undertake both testing and administering vaccine doses. From point of order, the vehicle took approximately four weeks to supply, with three more days to wrap the vehicle and fit the TV stand and unit. This is the latest Mobile Support unit that we have supplied, a number of London boroughs have also hired similar vehicles and others are already operating in the North West and Scotland, with additional orders being worked on as we speak. Every vehicle build is bespoke to each customer, with no two vehicles being the same. This has been both a challenge and rewarding at the same time, sourcing different specification products to add to each vehicle that we have supplied. What it has taught us is that as specialist as an accessible vehicle is, there is scope for far more uses and opportunities than originally planned, perfectly demonstrating the flexibility of the vehicle.
“Each vehicle is supplied with a full maintenance package, including regular inspections and equipment servicing, echoing the level of support that we supply to all our rental vehicles, so for the council customer, the same processes and procedures are already in place that they have with us on our accessible and light commercial vehicle fleet hires.”
Commenting on the new Health and Wellbeing Bus, Cllr Jim Dickson, joint Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “We are well aware of the impact Covid-19 pandemic has had on our residents, particularly those from communities where health inequalities are greatest.
“Giving advice around Covid-19 at this time is crucial, but equally we want to make sure we reach many more residents to help them stay happy, healthy and well after what has been a very difficult year.”
