More than 50 driving jobs a week are undertaken by the Teignmouth charity Volunteering in Health which provides patient and carers support for all the patients within Teignmouth, Bishopsteignton, Shaldon and Chudleigh.
This service is vital for transporting the elderly and vulnerable not just to hospital but for shopping and befriending. The drivers will stay with the patient during their visit, if appropriate, and bring them straight back without having to wait.
The drivers are paid 40 pence per mile tax free allowance, a figure that has not been revised by the Inland Revenue for seven years. At today’s road and fuels costs it is quite unrealistic and has on occasion forced some drivers to resign when they are unable to carry the loss in expenses.
Tina Graham, manager patient and cares support, told the PRSD: “Losing drivers has a knock on effect on the most vulnerable members of our community and the other volunteer drivers.
If we are unable to get patients to hospital appointments, valuable resources are wasted with non attendance at hospital and patients’ conditions can deteriorate.”
Martin Spearman, chair of Volunteering in Health also commented on the risk of losing drivers saying a realistic increase would attract more volunteers.
If there are any patients who require this service, then they can contact Volunteering in Health on 01626 771143.
Come and enjoy Devon – book a hotel and get away!
Related posts:
- Like trees? Volunteer Tree Wardens needed in Teignbridge A Tree Warden scheme is set to be relaunched...
- Teignbridge Lib Dems support Reheat Britain environmental heating project The environmental heating project Reheat Britain, with its boiler scrappage...
- This hospital’s not for closing When you reach a certain age, the fear of going...
