Blue Badge reform Survey

Appendix B Research Instruments:

Transport Policy Directorate

Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ
T: 0131-244 0263, F: 0131- 244 7281
Bill.Brash@transportscotland.gsi.gov.uk

NHS Board Chief Executives
Local Authority Chief Executives
Our Ref: BB02/11
10 May 2011

Copy to:
COSLA
The Improvement Service

Dear NHS Board Chief Executives and Local Authority Chief Executives

The Scottish Government’s Reform of the Blue Badge Scheme

I am writing to you to enlist your assistance regarding the management of applications for Blue Badges to help with issues of severe restrictions of mobility.

Applications for Blue Badges are rising with unsustainable costs to the public purse. While this increase in applications could be a reflection of the ageing population and health services actively supporting people with long term conditions to be functioning independently, the management of the application process and the implementation of the requirements under the scheme can be extremely variable in Scotland. This causes confusion among people such as a Blue Badge being awarded in one area and refused in another for the same condition, or variable charges required for the processing of the application and the supporting clinical evidence where indicated.

Transport Scotland’s letter of 21 March 2011, signed by Donald Carmichael, sets out both current and proposed future reforms of the Blue Badge scheme.

The aims of the reform are to ensure that the Blue Badge scheme is responsive and effective for those who require use of a Badge for necessity of mobility independence and to improve their quality of life. The issue of a Blue Badge is not about providing an aid to convenient parking or to enable free parking. Further, the reforms strive for greater consistency and encouragement of best practice in the administration of the scheme.

A copy of the aforementioned letter and other relevant information can be found on Transport Scotland’s Blue Badge website.

In order to implement the reforms to the scheme effectively, we need to gain a better understanding of the picture at a national level of the fee levels and the management of the application, including the clinical and non clinical mobility assessments.

We are seeking your help in providing us with more detail on current administration practices for the Blue Badge scheme, particularly in relation to independent mobility assessments (IMAs) which may require clinical advice. Therefore, I would be grateful if you would please pass this letter to those within your organisation who deal with the administration of the Blue Badge scheme for action.

We are very mindful of the demands being placed on you, and we have attached very brief questionnaires for NHS Boards (Annex A) and for Local Authorities (Annex B) to complete. As you can see we are seeking a range of basic information about the administration of the scheme. However, if you need or wish to tell us more, then please feel free to add free text at the bottom of the forms or in a covering email. It would be helpful to have your completed questionnaires by Friday 27 May.

We are very appreciative for your very valuable assistance, as this information will help us to draw up best practice guidance on the most efficient way of administering and assessing Blue Badge applications in the future.

Many thanks for your help in this important area.

Yours sincerely

Bill Brash
Chair, Blue Badge Reform Working Group
Transport Policy Directorate