Appeal for volunteer patient transport drivers

The Trust’s Patient Transport Service (PTS) is an integral part of West Midlands Ambulance Service and plays a vital role in ensuring that patients from all over the region get to their hospital appointments each year.

Alongside PTS crews that are employed by West Midland Ambulance Service, the Trust also utilises the help of volunteer car drivers.

West Midlands Ambulance Service is currently appealing to anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer car driver in Herefordshire and Tenbury Wells to help get patients to their appointments at local renal dialysis centres or to hospital appointments further afield.

At present the Trust has around 40 volunteer car drivers who come from all walks of life and help to convey a wide range of patients to physiotherapy, renal and general outpatient appointments to a number of hospitals throughout the region.

Michelle Brotherton, Non-Emergency Services Operations Delivery Director, said: “Volunteer car drivers are extremely helpful to the service. There are no set hours and volunteers can do as much or as little as they wish, enabling them to fit their volunteering around their own lifestyle.

“I look forward to hearing from anyone wishing to become a volunteer, however, due to the nature of the work, it is essential that applicants have a high standard of cleanliness and dress, patience and consideration of patients.”

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer car driver you must:

• Hold a clean driving licence.
• Own a four-door car in good mechanical condition, with good exterior bodywork. (You must be able to produce all vehicle documentation e.g. MOT, insurance etc)
• All applicants must be prepared to have a Criminal Records Bureau check.
• Applicants are required to be medically and physically fit and to have a mature and caring attitude.

The Trust pays a set mileage rate to cover fuel costs as well as other out-of-pocket expenses e.g. cost of parking, cost of work phone calls etc.

For more information please contact Ros Wale via rosalind.wale@wmas.nhs.uk