Lifeline for volunteer patient transport service

A volunteer transport scheme, relied on by patients across the dale, will remain on the road thanks to a generous donation.
The Barnard Castle-based service caters for those in need of transport to access  medical appointments.
This has been made possible with funding from Durham County Council.
However, from March 31 this funding will cease and the scheme is set to be replaced by a county-wide service.
With the dale service hanging in limbo, the Friends of Richardson Hospital have stepped in to help.
The Friends group has donated £3,000 to the volunteer transport scheme because they believe it is “essential” to the people of Teesdale.
The donation was made in memory of lifelong volunteer Rosamund Finlay. Mrs Finlay, who died in January last year, was part of the Friends of Richardson Hospital since it was set up in 1952. Mrs Finlay was also part of the transport scheme for many years.
Chairwoman of the Friends Marie Yarker said: “The money is to be used for the drivers for Teesdale. They can go anywhere they like with it.
“The money we raise is for the people of Teesdale. We are all so isolated and have an ageing population. This service is absolutely essential to this dale.”
The service began in 1996 and is operated by the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) North East, which is part of the charity Volunteering Matters. With a team of 15 drivers, patients can book the service for appointments at Darlington Memorial Hospital, Bishop Auckland Hospital, James Cook University Hospital and the University Hospital of North Durham.
There is no set charge for the journeys but donations are relied upon.
The recent donation from the Friends of Richardson Hospital will be used to subsidise the drivers’ expenses and the service will now be able to continue until July.
Volunteer driver and organiser Trevor Goodge has been part of the scheme for the past three years.
He said: “We will continue as normal for a bit longer.
“We would like to say a big thank you to the Friends of Richardson Hospital. It just goes to show that they care about the people of Teesdale.
“That money will get used in the best way possible to meet the needs of residents.
“I may be the focal point but this is a team effort. I could not do what I need to do without the volunteers being on the other end of a phone. Everyone will do everything they possibly can.
“We have put no cost on the NHS and we have got every single person to their appointment.”
The long-term future of the scheme still remains uncertain but discussions are currently on-going.
RSVP development worker Ashleigh Gibson said: “We would like to thank the Friends very much. It is lovely that the donation is in Rosamund’s name. She put a lot of hours in over the years. She is sadly missed. It is a lovely way of remembering her and she is still supporting us now.
“We are struggling to pay for hospital journeys because the charity subsidises the drivers’ expenses. Patients make donations but it does not cover the costs. Things are looking positive for three years but it is still in discussion.”