Scheme for driving cancer patients

THE Irish Cancer Society (ICS) has launched a volunteer driving scheme to ensure cancer patients do not miss their hospital appointments because of transport difficulties.

Over 100 volunteers have been recruited by the society to drive patients from their homes in south Dublin, Wicklow and north Wexford to St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin.

The scheme, called Care to Drive, will be rolled out nationally next year, once it completes a year-long pilot phase. It is modelled on the successful Canadian Cancer Society Transport Service and has been developed to meet anticipated need for patient transport to the eight new centres for cancer care established under the National Cancer Care Strategy.