WEST Midlands Ambulance Service is appealing for volunteer car drivers to help patients got to their hospital appointments.

The trust’s Patient Transport Service is an integral part of its service and plays a vital role in ensuring that patients from all over the region get to their hospital appointments each year.

Alongside PTS crews employed by the, the trust also utilises volunteer car drivers.

The service is looking for o anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer car driver in Herefordshire and Tenbury Wells to help get patients to their appointments at local renal dialysis centres or to hospital appointments further afield.

At present the trust has around 40 volunteer car drivers who come from all walks of life and help to convey a wide range of patients to physiotherapy, renal and general outpatient appointments to a number of hospitals throughout the region.

Michelle Brotherton, non-emergency services operations delivery director, said: “Volunteer car drivers are extremely helpful to the service. There are no set hours and volunteers can do as much or as little as they wish, enabling them to fit their volunteering around their own lifestyle.

“I look forward to hearing from anyone wishing to become a volunteer, however, due to the nature of the work, it is essential that applicants have a high standard of cleanliness and dress, patience and consideration of patients.”

Volunteers must Hold a clean driving licence, Own a four-door car in good condition, be prepared to have a Criminal Records Bureau check, and be medically and physically fit and to have a mature and caring attitude.

The trust pays a set mileage rate to cover fuel costs as well as other out-of-pocket expenses such as the cost of parking and work phone calls.

For more information please contact Ros Wale at rosalind.wale@wmas.nhs.uk.