STAFF working for a Scottish NHS Trust responsible for an area of 10,000 square miles in the Highlands are using a new fleet of Vauxhall Corsas.

The Highland Primary Care NHS Trust has opted for Corsas as pool cars for its staff after an evaluation exercise which rated it as the safest and most cost-effective car in its class.

A variety of staff working for the hospital trust, including administrative and medical professionals such as district nurses, health visitors, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists, will use the vehicles.

The trust has taken delivery of 100 three-door Corsa 1.2i 16v petrol-engined Design models complete with twin front airbags and emergency brake assist, plus a further 21 Astra saloons and estates.

The vehicles, which are being leased through Lloyds TSB autolease over three years, will make up the trust's entire contingent of pool cars, part of a larger overall fleet of 220 vehicles.

The cars are being managed on the trust's behalf by Derwent Fleet Management, a non profit-making organisation which is part of Derwent Shared Services and procures and manages cars on behalf of NHS trusts across the country. It currently has 4,500 vehicles on its books.

Highland Primary Care NHS Trust transport manager Bill Riddoch said: 'Because many of our staff drive vehicles in very remote rural areas, a long way from civilisation in many cases, we wanted cars that were very safe, and yet as cost-effective as possible. The Vauxhall Corsa fitted the bill perfectly.'

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