Latest news with #VoluntaryCarService
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
NIAS volunteers drive cancer and kidney dialysis patients
Kindness, compassion and a free car ride goes a long way when you're undergoing hospital treatment for health issues, such as terminal cancer or kidney patients rely on the goodwill of strangers, many of whom become volunteer drivers for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) are among the lesser known roles that keep the health service ticking along - and they do it all for free."It is vital to the running of NIAS," said Yvonne McMichael from NIAS."They go above and beyond on the daily." More than 75 people, from across Northern Ireland, give up their time - and cars - as part of NIAS's Voluntary Car them is Willie Hutchinson whose three children have all had kidney their transplants, they underwent dialysis - a procedure which removes waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working."They used the car service quite a lot to get to the renal units," the former lorry driver told BBC News him, volunteering is his way of "pay back"."Somebody did it for them so I'm doing it for somebody else," he said. In 2023, the grandfather of six was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to Hutchinson's nominee was a patient he brought to and from hospital appointments for a number of years."The day that I got the award, I had brought him home – he wasn't well – and I took him into the house and he more or less fell into the chair," he said."I told his wife to ring for the doctor."He died that afternoon so he never found out that I'd got the award after all the work he had done to put me forward for it."It was a bit sad and bittersweet that he didn't know I'd got it but his family were thrilled to bits for me." 'Not just transport' The volunteer drivers are not employed, or paid, by NIAS, and only receive a mileage allowance for transporting patients - in their own cars - to and from hospital voluntary service saves NIAS money as it is significantly cheaper - and uses less resources - than taxis or Nicholl, a former mayor of Mid and East Antrim, has been on dialysis for almost seven years and relies on the service."I can tell you from experience that volunteer drivers are not just transport but they're part of the caring system," he said."These volunteer drivers give of their time freely. It's not just a lift to them, they have compassion, they bring calmness at a time when a patient like me needs that." With ambulances in high demand staff and resources stretched, Yvonne McMichael, who oversees the volunteer car service, says the work the volunteers do is "top tier"."With the capacity levels that we have at the minute, we do not have enough ambulances to provide the service to everyone who needs to get," she said."They cover Northern Ireland, providing service to seven renal units and also transferring patients to the two cancer centres at Belfast City Hospital and Altnagelvin, as well as taking patients to other appointments." Before becoming a volunteer driver, Martin Garrity had worked in an office for 35 years."I wanted a wee change," he said."I was chatting to a friend of mine who was doing voluntary driving at the time and he suggested to me I try it and 15 years on, I'm still here."For him, the best thing about it is the people he has met."When you have your patients maybe three times a week, you build up a friendship with them and their families and they're so appreciative," he said."You get close to them and they confide in you about certain things. Sometimes there's bad news and it's sad, it's tough."So will he still be volunteering in another 15 years?"I hope so," he said."The reward you get is worth it and I'd say the other drivers would say the same."
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man says he is unable to get to job due to bus cut
A man in Guernsey says he will not be able to get to his full-time job following the news that a bus service for disabled islanders is stopping from July. UnLtd provides employment and social activities for people with disabilities and puts on an accessible bus which helps them get to work. Lee Vaudin, 46, said: "It means a lot to me to actually get here [to work] because I get paid a wage for doing what I do. The Ron Short bus comes to pick me up in the morning and take me back at night. If there is no way of getting in, I can't come." However, the States of Guernsey said there were other options for islanders like the Voluntary Car Service and Income Support payments, which could be used to cover travel costs. More news stories for Guernsey Listen to the latest news for Guernsey The UnLtd service was introduced in 2022 following a States push for improved accessibility. Organisers said for the last seven months it had been propped up by the Ron Short Centre reserves, in the hope the service would receive a grant. However, their application to the Social Investment Fund was denied. The fund gets applications from different charities and it decides which to offer money. The bus service will stop from 1 July. Bus driver, Nick Darrieulat, 51, said the service was "essential, otherwise these people would be stuck at home 24/7, and just getting depressed, [but] this gives them the opportunity to have a life". "When I arrived on the island, I was asked to do this job and it changed my life. "Losing it, or the threat of losing it, means that I lose a whole new family plus my ability to survive on this island." Marc Winn, innovations director at the Ron Short Centre, said: "Having a disability is often very isolating and this maybe one of the only places that people can go and be transported to in their week. "Its a hugely vibrant and wonderful place but it actually costs money to deliver those services and bring people here." The States said it wanted to reassure islanders there was help available in getting to and from essential appointments. It said it included the Voluntary Car Service, which was available through Health Connections, and people struggling with the costs of transport could also apply for Income Support. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Charity to end disability bus service over funding 'Lack of accessibility makes you feel left out' Mobility scooter user slams lack of improvements Businesses urged to speed up access improvements States of Guernsey - Social Investment Fund
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man says he is unable to get to job due to bus cut
A man in Guernsey says he will not be able to get to his full-time job following the news that a bus service for disabled islanders is stopping from July. UnLtd provides employment and social activities for people with disabilities and puts on an accessible bus which helps them get to work. Lee Vaudin, 46, said: "It means a lot to me to actually get here [to work] because I get paid a wage for doing what I do. The Ron Short bus comes to pick me up in the morning and take me back at night. If there is no way of getting in, I can't come." However, the States of Guernsey said there were other options for islanders like the Voluntary Car Service and Income Support payments, which could be used to cover travel costs. More news stories for Guernsey Listen to the latest news for Guernsey The UnLtd service was introduced in 2022 following a States push for improved accessibility. Organisers said for the last seven months it had been propped up by the Ron Short Centre reserves, in the hope the service would receive a grant. However, their application to the Social Investment Fund was denied. The fund gets applications from different charities and it decides which to offer money. The bus service will stop from 1 July. Bus driver, Nick Darrieulat, 51, said the service was "essential, otherwise these people would be stuck at home 24/7, and just getting depressed, [but] this gives them the opportunity to have a life". "When I arrived on the island, I was asked to do this job and it changed my life. "Losing it, or the threat of losing it, means that I lose a whole new family plus my ability to survive on this island." Marc Winn, innovations director at the Ron Short Centre, said: "Having a disability is often very isolating and this maybe one of the only places that people can go and be transported to in their week. "Its a hugely vibrant and wonderful place but it actually costs money to deliver those services and bring people here." The States said it wanted to reassure islanders there was help available in getting to and from essential appointments. It said it included the Voluntary Car Service, which was available through Health Connections, and people struggling with the costs of transport could also apply for Income Support. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Charity to end disability bus service over funding 'Lack of accessibility makes you feel left out' Mobility scooter user slams lack of improvements Businesses urged to speed up access improvements States of Guernsey - Social Investment Fund
