Weston Park Cancer Charity and several partners have celebrated a year since the launch of a Chesterfield transport service, which provides vital free travel for people living in Chesterfield who need cancer treatment at Sheffield hospitals.
In the year since the service launched, it has covered more than 14,000 miles, making more than 500 round trips to provide essential access to treatment – which may otherwise have been difficult for people in need of treatment and care which could change or save their lives.
A team of volunteer drivers has dedicated more than 4,000 volunteer hours over the last 12 months, with patients saving more than £33,000 on taxi fares and transport costs collectively, based on a £30 taxi fare each way between Chesterfield and Weston Park.
Most importantly, though, the transport aims to relieve the stresses and strains which travel to and from Weston Park can bring.
Figures suggest that around 20 per cent of patients at Weston Park Cancer Centre reside from Chesterfield, the equivalent of more than 3,000 patients at any one time and more than 1,300 each year.
The transport service launch in 2021 followed Weston Park Cancer Charity’s takeover of Chesterfield cancer charity, Nenna Kind, in 2020. It marked a ’major step forward’ for Weston Park Cancer Charity in its ‘commitment to care in every sense’ for cancer patients and their families in Chesterfield.
Graham, from Chesterfield, who travelled on the service 23 times during his treatment for prostate cancer, said: “What helps is that the drivers all have so many stories and anecdotes and some have been in similar situations.
“You got back onto the bus to come home and sometimes you can have banter on the way back – but the drivers always seem to know whether you want to talk or not. Some days I came on and I don’t think any of the drivers would have minded if I’d have had a nap – it was wonderful.
“It got to the point that the bus journey was the best part of going to the hospital because you knew you were going to be talking and having a laugh all the way. The drivers become your friends.”
Chris, who lives in Matlock also travelled on the Weston Park bus for 21 days during his radiotherapy treatment, said: “I’d never been to Weston Park before my treatment started, I didn’t understand the layout of the place or the parking, and I thought ‘I’m going to be really wound up if I drive there’.
“And then one of the Macmillan nurses mentioned to me about this service, I got in touch with Matt (Hadley, Weston Park Cancer Charity’s Transport Manager), he talked me through it all. And I’ve got to say the service is absolutely unbelievable. They’ve thought of everything.
“You feel at ease the drivers completely take your mind off everything – they’re so friendly, they’re so knowledgeable and they’re always happy to have a chat.”
The success and importance of the charity’s Chesterfield transport, which is operated in partnership with Community Chesterfield, Derbyshire Voluntary Action, the University of Derby, Chesterfield Royal Hospital and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, led to the launch of its Barnsley transport service in December 2021.
Emma Clarke, Weston Park Cancer Charity CEO, who oversaw the launch of the Chesterfield service along with Transport Manager, Matt Hadley, said: “We’re so thrilled to see and hear the impact which our transport has had since it launched a year ago in Chesterfield.
“We never want transport to prevent anyone accessing the treatment which could change, or even save, their life. That’s why our free, safe transport runs each day from St Helena Campus in Chesterfield, and Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley respectively.
“If you or anyone you know could benefit from our free transport, please don’t hesitate to get in touch as we are here to support you as we face cancer together – together at every step.”
Weston Park Cancer Charity’s transport service operates twice daily at 9.30am and 1.30pm between the University of Derby’s St Helena Campus in Chesterfield, and Sheffield hospitals.
For more information on Weston Park Cancer Charity’s transport services from Barnsley and Chesterfield, or to book a seat, call 0114 553 3330 or email transport@wpcancercharity.org.uk.
Derbyshire Voluntary Action, Community Chesterfield, University of Derby and Chesterfield Royal Hospital support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
