Free transport service for Forth Valley dialysis patients

Run by volunteers and provided free to patients, the service will assist those living with chronic kidney disease who must undergo dialysis at the Forth Valley Royal Hospital three times a week.

It began at the start of last month and has so far provided 36 patient journeys a week.

David Grant (56), from Brightons, has been receiving dialysis treatment for 25 years and is just one of the people who have been able to take advantage of the free transport.

He said: “I used to drive myself to treatment but I had to stop a few months ago when my health took a turn for the worse, so the hospital were arranging taxis for me. Then the St John Scotland service started and it has been great.

“I have the same three drivers each week and they are all very friendly and reliable. Dialysis can be really draining, and the longer I’ve been getting it, the bigger effect it has on me.

“Some days you feel OK and some days you feel terrible. Having the friendly volunteers taking you in for treatment and home again afterwards really helps keep your spirits up.”

The service runs six days a week, and sees a team of 13 St John Scotland volunteers use their own cars to provide door-to-door transport between a patient’s home and the hospital.

Jane Rodriguez, NHS Forth Valley clinical nurse manager, said: “This is a brilliant service and one which is being very much appreciated by our patients. The fact the volunteer phones the patient the night before to arrange the journey is a personal touch which makes the process a much more familiar one and takes the stress away from the patient.

“As only one or two regular drivers are assigned to a particular route it also means patients get to know their drivers.”

Kirstin Horner (45), from Bonnybridge, is one of the volunteer drivers.

She said: "I have been on furlough since March, so when I saw the advert for volunteer drivers I thought ‘why not?’. I do two shifts a week and the patients I help are both really nice – we have a chat on the way to the hospital.”