For volunteers: driving patients to hospital treatments
On this page:
Being a volunteer driver is of huge importance to me. I’d leave everything aside for it. It is an invaluable service for people who might not have someone to take them to appointments. It’s time well invested.
What’s involved in being a volunteer Driver?
- Do you have an email address?
- Can you commit to driving at least twice a month?
- Do you have weekday availability?
- Have you got a roadworthy, clean car? Valid car insurance, relevant NCT and driving licence?
- Can you commit to being part of the programme for a minimum of 12 months?
Then we would like to hear from you!
So, how does the process work? What's involved in a typical day with the service?
Patients tell us their appointment dates
Initially, the office team will receive a hospital appointment date from a referred patient (this happens a minimum of three days before the drive). So if a patient needs a driver on a Wednesday, the appointment has to be phoned in before 4.45pm, the previous Friday.
We share the dates to all our drivers
At 5.00pm on Friday evening we email out a list of drives available nationally to all drivers.
Drivers choose their dates
Over the weekend, drivers will see if they are available to commit to a drive and email us back, identifying which drive is suitable to them.
We match drivers to patients
On Monday morning, the office will then start matching drivers to patients. One driver is never partnered to one particular patient.
We email details to driver
We email the driver the relevant patient details. The driver will need to contact the patient as soon as they receive their details to introduce themselves and re-confirm details of the drive.
Driver brings patient from home to hospital
At the agreed time, the driver will pick up the patient from the door of their home and drive them to the door of the hospital.
Driver brings patient from hospital to home
About 30 minutes before their treatment is finished, the patient will call the driver to collect them at the door of the hospital and return them home. The drive for the day is then complete!
The Irish Cancer Society Transport Service Team hold support and supervision meetings twice a year to support drivers.
All volunteer recruitment, interviews, training, support and supervision sessions are held locally.
Need more information about the Transport Service? Visit our Transport Service page or call the Transport Service Team on (01) 231 0522, or email travel@irishcancer.ie
Read more
For patients: how to be referred to the Transport Service
Participating hospitals
For more information
Phone
(01) 231 0522
