Friends of Darlington Memorial Hospital

Volunteer car service

In 2005 this service received the CVS Award for work which makes a difference in the community in which it operates.Today it continues to flourish and therefore demonstrates longevity and effectiveness in serving a large section of the community where help makes a significant difference to the user and the provider.

When started, in December 1997, this service was quite unique, being developed following discussion with CVS Darlington, Darlington Borough Council and Attend. The latter two organisations provided start-up funding.The concept was, and continues to be, to provide free transport for hospital patients who have travel difficulties.These are patients who do not need an ambulance or the skills of an ambulance driver and where public or private transport is difficult.
Initial meetings with hospital senior management and the ambulance service took place before the service was launched.

The administration and work planning is dealt with by a volunteer co-ordinator who works five days a week and who has a team of up to 12 volunteer drivers at any one time.

The system is quite simple to operate.  Wards and Departments of the hospital identify patients where help is needed with transport They then make a booking with our Volunteer Driver Co-ordinator, either by submitting a pre-printed form or by telephone. Most requests are made between two days and two months before required, although a number of ‘same day’ requests are received, the latter often being discharged in-patients needing transport to get home.

The benefits to patients are:

• Collection from home in order to arrive at hospital approximately 10/15 minutes before appointment.
• Taken to ward or department by driver to ensure as little discomfort and worry as possible.
• Collected and taken home soon after treatment.
• They feel cared for whilst away from home.

The benefits to the hospital are:

• Patients arrive on time and service has reduced ‘Did not attend’ numbers.
• Patients more relaxed and happier about visit.
• Reduces the number of overnight stays by bringing patients in at 8 a.m.
• Reduces pressure on ambulance service.

Drivers give their time and the use of their car free of charge.  They are paid 31 pence per mile to cover petrol costs etc.

The recent annual costs of operating the service are between £36,000 and £46,000.  The Hospital Trust contributes £15,000 of this and the balance is raised by ‘The Friends’ through continuous fund-raising activities.

Very few problems are encountered but any that do occur are resolved through a good working relationship and communications with the staff of wards and departments.

With 12 Drivers we are achieving our original objectives and providing transport for up to 110 patients each week.  Since the scheme started we have cared for some 62,000 patients although some of these could have been the same patient on more than one occasion.  Approximately 60% of these are from rural areas where transport can always be a problem.  These long journeys often require the drivers to leave home at 6.30 a.m. to keep 8.00 a.m. hospital appointments.

The success of the service has resulted in our being invited to aid discussions about introducing similar schemes in other hospitals and extending our current service within Co. Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust area.

Quotes

The service is continuously complimented by both patients and hospital staff, with many people commenting “I don’t know how I would have managed without your help”.