Appeal: Riverside Surgery Befrienders

What we do
We drive patients of the surgery to their appointments at Torbay, Newton Abbot and R D & E hospitals. We pick them up at their homes, wait for them at the hospital and bring them back afterwards. We also transport patients to the Riverside Surgery for appointments and to the various dentists in Bovey Tracey and Newton Abbot. Occasionally we offer caring visits to the socially isolated or housebound patients. Several volunteers will also collect prescriptions from the pharmacy and deliver them to the patient's home.

Is there anything else we do?
We arrange a tea party for patients most years when they can meet volunteers and also other patients. It is mainly a social event which gets people out. We also occasionally organise a coffee morning in The Methodist Hall for patients friends and volunteers.

Our funding
There is a scale of charges which vary according to where you go.Your driver will inform you. For local journeys a voluntary donation is requested.
The money you give to the driver goes into a central fund and the drivers are then able to claim a mileage allowance from Befrienders. We rely entirely on fees or voluntary donations received from patients. Local charities and organisations have also been very generous in supporting us.

How to avail yourself of our services
If you require transport for a medical appointment, ring the surgery on 832666 giving details of where you need to go. This request is written down and passed to one of our co-ordinators who will then arrange a driver. You will receive a call back confirming the arrangement. The day before your appointment you will receive another call from your driver just to confirm times etc for your journey and the appointment. The driver will pick you up from home, take you to the appoinment, wait for you, and return you home. If you need a family member or friend with you they too will be able to tavel with you at no extra cost.

So.....that tells you all you need to know about Befrienders.....but in order for our services to continue and to be able to accommmodate all the many requests we receive each week we urgently require additional volunteer drivers. During each of the last few years we have received between 600 and 800 requests for our services! If you feel you would like to become a volunteer with Befrienders please contact me and you can be instantly enrolled. We would be glad to hear from you! The commitment is not onerous nor will it take up a lot of your time, but it is very rewarding assisting people who are always so grateful for the help we give.

Thank you for reading about us in The Cottage and we look forward to hearing from you if you would like to join us.

Patrick Stock
Tel: 01626 834110
Email: phstock20@yahoo.co.uk