A man has given up his time to help others after seeing the pressure on the ambulance service during the covid pandemic.
Andrew Kayley retired from his civil service job and this year decided to 'give something back' and help other people. Earlier this year, the 57-year-old became a volunteer car driver for the North West Ambulance Service, taking patients to and from appointments.
During the course of the pandemic, pressure and demand on our ambulance service and NHS quickly spiralled, but Andrew said a service like this not only helps reduce that demand, but is also flexible and rewarding. He said it is "very satisfying" giving up his time knowing he is "taking the worry away" for someone else.
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He told the ECHO 'everyone has a story to tell', including when he helped to take a young man from Merseyside to Birmingham for a heart and liver transplant. He said: "The nearest transplant hospital for liver and heart is Birmingham so I've been there a few times. I took a guy a few weeks ago who has a transplant.
"He had that during covid which was very difficult for his young family and he was in hospital several weeks without visitors and he's still going to treatments for that. He was going through something horrible but was so positive about his wife and family and how that operation had saved his life. The alternative would be he wouldn't be here and that's the thing that stood out to me.
"Everyday you're helping someone and it's very satisfying. I've got time to give up and you're helping to take that worry away from someone who would otherwise be unable to get to and from their appointments. Everyone has been very appreciative and it's been interesting so far."
Andrew, from Bebington, said he gives up his time on a Monday and Wednesday and can take people anywhere across Merseyside and even as far as Birmingham or Manchester. He said he wanted to help as soon as he was able to, adding: "I'd retired and was wondering what to do. You see the pressure on the health service and ambulance service and want to help in some way.
"I'm not a doctor, I can't make people better but I can help to get patients to their treatment that will make them better and that's why I do it. The people I take are primarily vulnerable people who have no means of getting to their appointments or who aren't well enough to drive home and it's rewarding to be able to help them."
Andrew said he will check the patient planner the day before and will ring his patients to check the information is correct. Usually helping on average three or four people a day, the 57-year-old said he can take on more or less as the service is 'very flexible to you'.
He told the ECHO: "I'd definitely urge others to do it. On my training course there were people who could dedicate five days a week volunteering and some people who could only do one due to working full-time, it's really interesting to see. The ambulance service isn't just 999 but patient transport service and NHS and it's interesting to see how it all works.
"People have some interesting stories and you come home feeling very satisfied to have helped people in a small way, to help them recover. You are making a difference to someone's day no matter how big or small. There's always a need for more drivers to spread that load. Sometimes patients can be waiting two hours if someone isn't available so we can help spread that load. We can all do our bit."
The recruitment of volunteer car drivers was suspended during the height of the pandemic but has since started up again. The North West Ambulance Service currently has over 300 volunteer drivers who become a 'friendly face and listening ear' to patients going through an anxious and stressful time.
All fuel costs and additional expenses are refunded and full training is provided, previous medical experience is not required but to become a volunteer you will need a full UK driving licence, access to a car with a minimum of four doors, undertake a DBS check funded by the trust and have fully comprehensive insurance.
The trust said: "As a volunteer driver, you’ll step into people’s lives for one-off or regular appointments. During that time, you’ll make a huge difference to them and the NHS." More information can be found online by clicking here.
