My name is Alison and I am the Administrator in the Day Service.
Part of my job is to arrange transport for patients who are unable to get to the Hospice Day Service themselves or with a friend or relative. This means booking ambulance transport or a volunteer driver to bring the patients to the Hospice.
Volunteer drivers are an integral part of the Hospice Day Service Team. They make contact with their patient(s) the night before to reassure them that they have transport and to confirm the time they expect to arrive at the patient’s home. Patients usually arrive in the Day Service for a 10.30am start and the drivers return to take them home in the afternoon. Tea and cake is served at 3.00pm and the drivers are welcome to enjoy a cup and a slice before they take their charges away; the Day Service day finishes at 3.30pm.
Our volunteer drivers have varying degrees of commitment. Some are able to offer a specific day each week, some work around their shift work, others are flexible as to which day they are available and even offer more than one day. Whatever the case, we are always grateful for the support they give as without their time we would not be able to help as many patients as we do.
Drivers can claim back their mileage as we do not expect our volunteers to be out of pocket; they give of their time and they should not pay for doing so! There is also the option to pay all or part of their expenses back (and giftaided, if appropriate) to the Hospice, but there is no requirement or pressure to do so.
New volunteers are always welcome and if this is something you are interested in, or you would like more information about, please give me a call on 01892 820509.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Alison
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