BALLARAT Regional Integrated Cancer Centre\u2019s patient transport service has a brand-new car in its fleet.<\/p>\n
Prostate cancer support charity The Male Bag Foundation, with the assistance of their patron Peter Stevens, have donated a new Nissan X-TRAIL to BRICC.<\/p>\n
Patients who are unable to independently get to their treatment at the Centre are taken to and from appointments by volunteer drivers.<\/p>\n
BRICC\u2019s director of medical operations Steve Medwell said the service is a unique one, crucial to the smooth operation of the Centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany patients who are very unwell need to receive treatment at BRICC every day. This places additional stresses on family and friends,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis service, and the other support services provided by our Wellness Centre, are so important in providing additional help for our patients.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of us in BRICC are so grateful for the generosity of the donors and volunteers who literally keep these services running.\u201d<\/p>\n
Volunteer patient transport service driver Tom Buscombe said trips with patients can be \u201cextensive,\u201d so having a safe and comfortable car is important.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe go as far as Ararat, Dunolly, and Bacchus Marsh, but a lot of the patients are local,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no question that the best part about the job is getting to chat to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fellow volunteer driver Bernadette O\u2019Loughlin said she enjoys being able to help \u201cthe most wonderful people\u201d she meets along the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re retired, we\u2019re still healthy, so it\u2019s lovely to be able to do something for somebody else. They\u2019re so grateful, you feel humbled,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
For Mr Medwell, there\u2019s a lot to be said about having team of mature people in the driver\u2019s seat.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re not just a terrific group, they\u2019re experienced in life generally, and I don\u2019t think that should be discounted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen patients get into the car and chat to our volunteers, it\u2019s great for their state of mind, and they\u2019re coming into treatment feeling relaxed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Male Bag Foundation patron David Parkin officially presented the car to BRICC at Peter Stevens Motorworld last week, on behalf of Mr Stevens and the charity.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2019 we purchased the first patient transport vehicle for BRICC. In less than three years it has travelled over 100,000 kilometres, which demonstrates how important this service is to cancer patients in our region,\u201d Mr Stevens said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are happy to be upgrading this original vehicle to continue to help our communities affected by cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BALLARAT Regional Integrated Cancer Centre\u2019s patient transport service has a brand-new car in its fleet. Prostate cancer support charity The Male Bag Foundation, with the assistance of their patron Peter Stevens, have donated a new Nissan X-TRAIL to BRICC. Patients who are unable to independently get to their treatment at the Centre are taken to […]<\/p>\n