A volunteer driving scheme to transport patients to cancer treatment is working well for all parties, writes Anne Dempsey
ANTIQUE DEALER Min Drum, Rosslare, Co Wexford was a trailblazer though she didn't know it. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, she drove herself to St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin for each chemo and radiotherapy appointment.
"I was lucky. I had the car and made myself well enough to drive. You meet lovely people in the same boat as yourself.
"One day I met someone undergoing chemo who was also from Wexford. On my way home, I saw her standing at the bus stop waiting for the Wexford bus.
"I couldn't believe it, gave her a lift home, of course, and made sure I did it in future as much as possible. I met so many women in hospital with transport problems. It made me realise how fortunate I was to be independent."
Min made a full recovery, and has long been on the look-out to give something back. So when she saw the Irish Cancer Society's (ICS) announcement seeking volunteers for a pilot transport scheme to facilitate cancer patients keeping hospital appointments, she was in like a shot.
Recently she got up at 6am and collected a couple from Co Wicklow, a wife accompanying her husband for cancer treatment. "It worked like clockwork. We were at the hospital at 9.15am, and they expected to be finished at 2pm. I went to see my mother who is in hospital across the city, and was back for them on time. They were just ready, home at 3.30pm and I was home somewhat later.
"It was a long day but I didn't mind and they were absolutely delighted. They have their own car but are not comfortable driving in the city, so this service makes things much easier for them."
Modelled on a successful Canadian initiative, Care to Drive is a volunteer driving scheme coordinated by the ICS to transport patients from their homes in south Dublin, Wicklow and north Wexford to treatment at St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin.
It was devised in response to the closing of local cancer services and anticipated changed transport needs of patients travelling long distances to the one of the eight cancer care centres.
So far the scheme has recruited 111 drivers - 53 men and 58 women. The pilot phase will end next April, followed, it is hoped, by a national expansion. Cancer volunteer drivers get 51 cent per mile (32 cent per kilometre) paid monthly and other relevant expenses are covered so that they are not out of pocket
The scheme was launched by Prof Tom Keane, national director of Cancer Control. "Care to Drive directly supports the strategy for the eight cancer centres in removing some of the barriers to getting patients to the best possible care for the best possible outcomes," he says - with John McCormack, ICS chief executive, adding that more transport initiatives are planned to meet the needs of patients.
One such is Austin Duffy, aged 45 of Shankill, Co Dublin. Diagnosed with leukaemia in July 2007, he has had four chemotherapy treatments and hopefully starts a maintenance regime soon.
"I go to Vincent's once a week for blood tests. I had been getting there by health board ambulance but it serves other patients in different hospitals. I could be finished in a few hours or I could be there all day, but unfortunately the ambulance service had no flexibility. I never knew how long I would wait with nobody to ask.
"Part of my condition is that I become extremely tired, so often I gave up and got a taxi home. I have been unemployed since my illness, so could have done without that expense."
Austin Duffy now feels he has his own personal chauffeur in Care to Drive volunteer, Paddy Dwyer.
"I'll give you a perfect example. Yesterday I was finished in a record 90 minutes. We phoned Paddy and he was with me within five minutes. This service has taken such a weight off my mind and my wife's. Driving in with someone, chatting about what the Government is up to helps you take your mind off your worries and that's another bonus."
Paddy Dwyer, Bray, Co Wicklow, retired four years ago and felt he had some time available to do something worthwhile. "I am able to offer one full day and two half days. We were interviewed and they did various security checks. We also got some training as to how we should be in relation to the clients, to be friendly without becoming too involved.
"The first time Austin was kept in overnight so someone else brought him home. Yesterday, everything worked very smoothly.
"The big thing that has hit me is that if you are ill and have had treatment you will be feeling very, very vulnerable, and having to hang around waiting and dependent on taxis or public transport must be particularly grim. I think this service is a great idea."
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"The big thing that has hit me is that if you are ill and have had treatment you will be feeling very, very vulnerable, and having to hang around waiting and dependent on taxis or public transport must be particularly grim. I think this service is a great idea