Free trips for medical care

Malcolm Laycock is ready to take anyone who needs a ride to their medical appointment. Photo: Dan Hutchinson

St John Ambulance runs a free health shuttle service that takes residents to medical appointments in Taupō, Rotorua and Hamilton, but many in the community still don't know it exists.

By Dan Hutchinson

The shuttle has clocked up more than 172,000 kilometres since launching six years ago, taking patients to hospitals, specialist appointments, eye clinics and physiotherapy sessions.

In recent weeks the cost of fuel has become an issue for many, so the service is reminding people they are available. It also welcomes donations to cover its own costs.

The service asks for a koha, or donation, but doesn't expect or require payment.

"We're available to everybody," says Malcolm Laycock, one of the shuttle's volunteer drivers.

"We will take anybody anywhere."

The service operates with two volunteers per trip — a driver and an attendant — and requires 24 hours' notice for bookings.

Pickup times are scheduled an hour and a half before appointments in Rotorua and two to three hours before Hamilton appointments.

"The primary source of travel is between Taupō and Rotorua, [or] any medical appointment in Rotorua," says John, another volunteer driver.

"Whether it's the eye clinic, the hospital, a physiotherapist, we will take them anywhere."

The shuttle also supports family members visiting relatives in hospital.

Hato Hono St John Taupō Area Committee Chairman Les Wills has spent 18 years as a senior auditor inside Health New Zealand, and says the service fills a critical gap.

"When you look at the socioeconomic spectrum in Taupō, it's the ones at the bottom end," Wills says.

The shuttle travels to more than 30 different locations in Taupō, Rotorua and Waikato.

Rotorua Hospital and the eye clinic are the top two destinations, with Taupō Hospital ranking third.

Volunteer drivers average about 29,000km a year. On busy days, trips can exceed 400km, such as when transporting multiple patients to different locations including Hamilton's oncology centre.

"We've been going six years and there's still people in Taupō who don't know it exists," Malcolm says.

"They see it, but they don't register."

The shuttle is one of 105 such services operating across New Zealand, supported by more than 900 volunteers out of St. John's 8,000 total volunteers.

The original vehicle was purchased through a donation to Taupō St John, with the donor requesting anonymity.

Funding for the shuttle comes from the local committee rather than St John's general fund.

The service relies on donations and fundraising to cover operational costs including fuel, maintenance and eventual vehicle replacement.

Fuel has become an issue in recent weeks, and the service could use extra funds to help cover the additional demand and cost of travel.

Les says they have been putting flyers up in medical centres to help spread the word that they are available and provide small take-away chits with advice as to how a shuttle booking can be made.  

Residents can book the shuttle by contacting St John Taupō, on 0800 824 3258 or wakaora@stjohn.org.nz.

The service operates under NZTA small light service vehicle regulations and doesn't require drivers to hold a passenger endorsement because no fee is charged.