Anne Johnson, one of our volunteer car driver for the Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) based in Derbyshire has been with us for over two and a half years.
Having worked in the NHS for nearly 40 years before retirement, Anne understand how important the service is, “and more importantly to patients knowing that if they have real transport problems we can usually help them provided they meet the eligibility criteria set by national guidance.”
“It’s even more impactful around the Christmas and New Year period that we are available to help. At this time of year everybody is so busy preparing for the holiday period, but the NHS strives to carry on their services. So patients will still be going to outpatient clinics or for treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or renal dialysis all of which need to carry on as usual.”
“As NEPTS drivers, we use our own cars to take patients of all ages to hospitals both in and around our base area. During festive season, it makes a difference if we have chance to chat with patients to help relieve their worry and anxiety a bit as sometimes they may feel lonely and uncertain.”
“Some patients want to talk about anything but some are fairly quiet. After a while you can usually judge what type of patient you have and it’s a privilege to be able to provide them with a service that helps them with their healthcare journey albeit in a small way.”
Patients often compliment the volunteers on what they do and it gives them a sense of pride in a job well done. Anne said, “I think most of the drivers do the job with a sense of wanting to help people, to do something useful. So we will be working around the Christmas period trying to keep people happy and looking forward to their celebrations.”