Transport services at the Hope Cancer Support Centre
One of the issues identified by Hope Cancer Support Centre clients is the difficulty many people experience getting to and from their hospital appointments for cancer treatments. This can cause added stress for those who are receiving treatments if they do not have ready access to transport to and from the hospitals.
HOW DOES IT WORK
The Hope Centre purchased a car in 2017 to provide a transport service to our clients. Volunteer drivers are carefully selected and trained by the Centre and they donate their time to drive for us. The Centre coordinates the service, aligning an available driver with a transport client.
The Hope Centre Transport Service provides transportation to and from treatment appointments for people with cancer, who do not have other means of transport or are unable to drive themselves.
This service is provided free of charge and clients will be picked up from their home and returned to their home at the end of the journey.
WHO CAN AVAIL OF THE SERVICE
Clients will first be/ have been assessed by a Hope Centre Support Nurse and be registered as a Hope Centre client.
Clients must be traveling to an appointment required as part of their cancer treatment, and be able to walk unassisted to and from the vehicle, or have an accompanying caregiver to assist. Clients can be accompanied by someone who is attending the appointment with them/supporting them, subject to available space.
As much advance notice as possible is required in order to plan and coordinate the journeys, to give the best possible service to all those who need it. We also understand that clients may get short notice of hospital appointments, and we will do our best to facilitate all appointment times.
SERVICE AVAILABILITY
The service is currently available Monday to Friday. Every effort will be made to meet client needs and sometimes a number of clients will be facilitated on the same trip, if hospital locations and appointment times can be coordinated. Drivers do not divert from the assigned appointment schedules.
CONFIDENTIALITY
The transport service operates under the policies and procedures of the Hope Cancer Support Centre CLG, including Confidentiality and Data Protection regulations. With your permission, your contact details will be shared with the drivers to enable them contact you in relation to provision of the service, pick up times, scheduled journeys, etc.
FEEDBACK
Our transport service is already proving itself to be a very valuable support to our clients in their treatments. Our clients report that the transport service has given them independence, peace of mind, and reduces the stress of trying to arrange travel to and from their hospital appointments.
The support of Hope and the commitment of the volunteer drivers has turned our Hope To Drive service into a reality.
We are currently travelling to Waterford and several hospitals in Dublin, and we are seeking additional volunteer drivers to help us to cope with the demand. If you can help, please contact the Centre.