SURGERY SCHEMES

RSVP West’s services always operate where people need them most, often in situations in which effective alternatives don’t exist. To take a typical case, many people who need to see their doctor have trouble reaching the surgery. They may be elderly, infirm or disabled. They may live some way away without a suitable bus route or may have no friends or relatives who can help. This is a situation in which volunteers really do make a difference.

The Horfield Health Centre

RSVP West currently has seven volunteer transport and assistance schemes running in association with surgeries in Bristol, with more in prospect. One is at the Horfield Health Centre in north Bristol. Ian Tennant is the Bristol area organiser for surgery schemes: “The volunteers provide an essential but basic service — ferrying patients to and from the surgery or taking them to hospital appointments.” The GPs at the surgery benefit, as well as the patients, because they have to make fewer house calls. They can assess patients using all the facilities in the surgery rather than the limited ones available at the patient’s home, so they can provide treatment that’s more timely and effective.

The GP coordinating the scheme is Jane Ghosh. Though she recognises the value of to getting patients to and from the surgery she emphasises that the scheme is more than just about transport. “Volunteers also befriend patients who are elderly and isolated. They may not be housebound as such but they lack friends and relatives. Volunteers visit for an hour or two, sometimes every week, sometimes less often. They might just chat or go out for coffee.”

The key person, Jane Ghosh is at pains to point out, is the scheme’s volunteer organiser, Brenda Simmons. She works with surgery staff, each week matching drivers and befrienders to patients to be sure that needs are met. Brenda used to be a nurse, specialising in the care of old people, before she had to retire with a disability: “I started with the surgery scheme as a befriender but later took on the job of organiser. I was uncertain about doing it to start with but now I absolutely love it.” She’s clear that that’s because it’s about so much more than just arranging transport. “People ring me up to talk about their health problems and what’s concerning them in general. My experience means I can give advice but perhaps more importantly, just listen.”

Volunteer Colin arrives at the heath centre
with a 90-year-old patient

One of the volunteers, Colin, is equally convinced of the value of the scheme, not only to the patients but also to him. “I retired at the end of 2008 and was, I think, the first to give lifts under the new scheme before it was even formally launched. It gives me something useful to do and I often have very interesting conversations with patients during the journeys. It’s very good to meet people and I’ve got to know some regulars quite well.”

The scheme sounds so obviously valuable that you might wonder why there aren’t more of them around. Ian Tennant points out that there are 50 practices in Bristol alone, so there’s room for expansion.. He finds some surgeries to be unenthusiastic or unimaginative. “And there have been too many initiatives in the NHS in recent years; some health-centre staff mentally resist another proposed project.” Jane Ghosh is sure that the whole practice must be involved. “Everyone in the practice must understand the scheme and appreciate its value, but particularly the receptionists. One key to its success is to keep volunteers and surgery staff closely in touch with each other. We do this through regular meetings to discuss progress and solve problems that arise.”

Ian believes that the proposed reorganisation of the Health Service, putting purchasing power in the hands of GPs, will raise recognition of the value of volunteers.

For more information, please contact the Regional Office in the first instance. You may also like to see our information leaflet, which is in PDF format.

© 2003–12 RSVP West. Page last updated on 25 May 2011.