Cancer Society seeking drivers to bring patients to Tullamore

Many patients from across Offaly receive chemotherapy at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore - but sometimes, lack of transport can make it difficult for them to make their appointments. That's why the Irish Cancer Society is looking for people from around the county to sign up to their 'Care to Drive?' programme, in which volunteers transport cancer patients to and from their chemotherapy appointments at Tullamore Hospital. The service is free for patients, and the Irish Cancer Society covers the cost of petrol for the volunteers who take patients over to the hospital. "It's a very worthwhile service and helps people get to and from their hospital appointments on time with no stress about how to get there or which member of the family to ask," says Gail Flint, the programme co-ordinator. Tullamore is the most recent hospital to sign up to the scheme, which has been a real success since it was launched early last year. Ballinasloe has around 45 drivers on its volunteer list; Limerick hospital has 120 and Tallaght has 150. By the end of this year, the C2D programme will have partnerships with a total of 13 hospitals. "In 2011 we transported 165 patients to 1,378 hospital appointments and in the first half of this year we have driven 190 patients to 1,258 hospital appointments - so the service is growing," says Gail. "There are a number of reasons why people might need the C2D service," Gail goes on to explain, citing as examples patients living on their own with little or no immediate family support; or patients who have family, but whose family can't consistently take the time off work to bring them to and from the hospital. "When the recession really hit, people became afraid of taking time off work," she says. It can also be the case that the treatment the patient is receiving is too aggressive to allow them drive themselves. "It's a door to door service, so the volunteer collects them at the door of the patient's house and brings them to the door of the hospital. Then, they get a call 15 or 20 minutes before they need to be collected from the hospital, and again, they drive to the door of the hospital, and deliver them to their homes." Drivers aren't assigned particular patients, as, Gail explains, they might not be able to manage to volunteer for all the patient's appointments. The hospital identifies patients who may be in need of the C2D service, and puts them in touch with the Irish Cancer Society. Then, when a patient has an appointment for which they need transport, they contact the C2D office, who arrange for a volunteer to pick them up. Volunteers are given two days' notice, and they are given the patient's contact details. There is no need for drivers to have any extra car insurance in place: "We have been working quite closely with the Irish Insurance Federation on this," says Gail, adding that a similar service was started back in 2008 for patients attending St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin, and it was agreed then that volunteers wouldn't need any sort of special insurance. Those interested in volunteering need to have a full driving licence; they need to have their car insured, and they need to have an NCT certificate for their car before they fill in the application forms. "Then they do a group interview, and there is Garda vetting, and while that vetting is going on, we do two reference checks, and we do training, and there's an orientation day at the hospital, and the drivers get to meet the oncology team. Drivers accepted as volunteers are given identity cards, spill kits, and window notices that identify them as drivers on the scheme, so hospital security staff will understand why their car is at the hospital door. The Irish Cancer Society pays drivers 24 cents per kilometre, which, Gail says, really only covers the cost of their petrol; and it can provide an allowance of up to €8 on production of receipts for a small snack if the driver has had to make an early morning call, or has had a long day's wait for the patient. There are patients across the county in need of the service - and thus a requirement for volunteer drivers from all over. Gail has found that, typically, those who volunteer are often people who are currently out of work, and like to have something to do to help them fill up the hours. Or they are often retired people. There are as many male volunteers as female, and there are no age restrictions in place. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Gail Flinter at the Irish Cancer Society on 01 2310566.