Three Toyota iQ3 compact hatchbacks, emblazoned with the red DOCTORnow logo, are becoming a familiar sight in Beaconsfield and surrounding areas.

DOCTORnow previously answered calls and made scheduled visits using a pool of Smart Cars, but the severity of recent winters persuaded it that front-wheel drive vehicles able to cope with all road conditions would be more practical.

Lynne Smith, practice manager of the Buckinghamshire private GP service, said: "Our VIP24 service provides 24-hour cover, so the doctor on duty could be called out at any time of the day or night. Front-wheel drive makes mobility that much less of a challenge."

The cars were supplied in May by Octagon Bracknell on a 30,000-mile/three-year contract hire agreement through Toyota Financial Services.

"The iQs are stylish little cars, and more refined than our previous ones," said Smith. "They're small enough to be nimble and manoeuvrable, but being roomier with back seats as well as a boot makes it easier if the doctors or nurses need to carry anything with them.

"The seats are very comfortable in terms of lumbar support and the fact that the cars are emission-friendly is also important to us."

The four-seat Toyota 1.33-litre iQ3 hatchbacks with manual transmission, as used by DOCTORnow, have a combined CO2 emissions of 113g/km, while the combined fuel economy is 57.6mpg.
 

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