Maidstone, Kent -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/26/2012 -- ‘Stretched to the limit and being taken for a ride’ is just some of the many problems plaguing this volunteer taxi service, but for the elderly people of Carillon Cottage this taxi service is an everyday necessity. Volunteers of Carillon Cottage in the high street started the service to help villagers who were unable to get around themselves or get to vital appointments, but the free taxi service in Wadhurst is finding it hard to cope now that the NHS has taken away their own car. Evo Promotions said “The NHS decision to remove their car from a service they know so many people rely on was irresponsible, but as long as there are people willing to give up their time to provide the service to the villagers the taxi service will survive” Sarah Rogers said “they now faced a difficult dilemma, We very much feel it is cost-saving for the NHS by abolishing its car service but the voluntary sector is left picking up the pieces,"

The community centre's service was initially intended to provide lifts for villagers to nearby appointments at the hairdresser and doctor's surgery or, in rarer cases, to the old Kent and Sussex Hospital. Patient Stan Cosham, 86, has relied on the service to take him to Tunbridge Wells for several years."They are fantastic and do a marvelous job," he said. "They treat me wonderfully well and push me around in a wheelchair when I go to Tunbridge Wells Hospital." Unfortunately not all 60 drivers go to Tunbridge Wells Hospital; the service is now seeking more people willing to give up their time. Joan Wooding-Jones, who heads the volunteer transport team at Carillon Cottage, said: "We are struggling manfully on. We haven't let anybody down so far, but we need drivers to be with the patients to keep an eye on them when they get to hospital if they need a wheelchair, some of our drivers cannot promise to do that." Evo Promotions has said “This service is stretched to the greatest extent and without more drivers to help them it will keep getting tougher, to the extent where it’s only the villagers and the people who require the services the most that will suffer”

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust spokesman Nick Evans said: "Unfortunately our voluntary car service was largely unfunded and taking hundreds of thousands of pounds a year away from direct patient care." GP’s can still book cars for patients to be taken to their first outpatient appointment. Mr Evans added: "This is funded externally and will continue." Evo Promotions has commented saying “This taxi service is all about supporting their local villagers, as long as there is appointments to get to this taxi service will be on hand to get them their, We at Evo promotions think this taxi service is amazing and wish them all the luck, We hope they receive the drivers they need to support the village”

http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/Volunteer-taxi-service-stretched-limit/story-15374819-detail/story.html