Patients who had struggled to attend medical appointments because they could not access transport have responded positively to a free community transport service launched by the Red Cross in Dunedin last year.
Red Cross Otago area manager Karen Clements said there had been some initial nervousness about how the community would respond, but after the service had been running for about four months, all the earlier research and preparations had been vindicated.
Other organisations in Dunedin ran similar services but there had been nothing that "targeted the general public", service organisers said.
The week-day service, which covers the Dunedin urban area, including Mosgiel, was "going really well" - about 60 to 70 patients a month were using it and about 10 volunteers were running it, Ms Clements said.
Users and volunteers had also responded positively to a survey about how the service was running, she said.
"I feel extremely happy. It shows there definitely was a need. It means at least they can get to these appointments, which are really important for their health."
The service was helping people who were in "dire straits", not only because they could not afford other forms of transport, but also because, in some cases, they had no family and no support locally.
Funding from community organisations was available to keep the service and its 12-seater van running, but any further community donations were welcome.
Within about two years, further research was likely to be undertaken to establish whether there was a need for the service elsewhere in Otago, or for a second vehicle to be provided in Dunedin.
Many of the service users were elderly, but other people who were referred by their health provider or social worker could also gain help, Ms Clements said.
For more information, phone (03) 477-1527 or email southern@redcross.org.nzjohn.gibb@odt.co.nz
