Frequently asked questions

We’ve tried to answer some typical questions you might have about our hospital transport service. If your question isn’t answered here, please get in touch with us.

Do I have to pay to travel to hospital with Bo’ness Car 4 U?

No. Bo’ness Car 4U is free for all eligible users (cancer patients registered at any Bo’ness medical practice). We are funded by donations and fundraising events. If you wish to give a donation simply ask your driver for a donation envelope. Or, you can donate directly into our bank account, BONESS CAR4U SCIO, Sort Code 08 92 99, Account number 65983706. Alternatively you can post a cheque and send it to Bo’ness Car4U, 65 Kinacres Grove, Bo’ness, EH51 9LT.

How much notice do I need to give to book a car?

The more notice we have the easier it will be to organise drivers.

What happens if the date of my appointment is changed, or I can’t go?

Please contact us ASAP on 07716 503645.

Can I take someone with me?

Normal practice is that the patient is the sole passenger. However if the patient needs to be accompanied, that person will be uplifted from the patient’s home at the same time as the patient and will undertake a Lateral Flow Test for Covid prior to the drive – we will consult the driver to make sure he/she is happy to take an extra passenger. If the patient is a child we would always insist the child to be accompanied by an adult.

Patients and any accompanying passenger must be able to get into and out of the volunteer’s vehicle on their own. Our volunteers are not trained in lifting people and will not do so. We have a duty of care towards to those being conveyed but also to the welfare of our volunteers.

Should the patient be a wheelchair user, they must arrange for someone to be at their home at the time of pick up to assist getting into the BC4U vehicle and also be available to assist there at the time of return. The patient must arrange for a hospital porter and wheelchair to give assistance on arrival and departure at the place of treatment.

Otherwise the patient will have to travel with the Scottish Ambulance Service who provide ambulances to patients who need support to reach healthcare appointments due to mobility needs.

How does it work?

Everyone involved at Bo’ness Car 4U are volunteers. If you have cancer and are registered at any Bo’ness Medical Practice, we can take you free of charge to and from hospital appointments.

We provide a free, friendly hospital transport service to go to and from hospital appointments and treatment sessions.

Do you collect from people’s homes?

You will be collected from your home, taken to hospital and brought home. The normal practice is for the patient to be the sole passenger.
If the patient is a child, we will insist they are always accompanied by an adult.

How do I book some transport?

Once you have registered with BC4U via your doctor’s receptionist and tell them you wish to use our service and have authorised them to give your name and phone number.

Your GP will not disclose to us how you are affected, nor the nature of your treatment. All we need to know is that you have asked for transportation.

By asking for our service you are agreeing to your doctor passing on your name and number to us.

The receptionist will pass your contact details to one of our coordinators. The coordinator will visit you, and find out the appointment times and any special requirements you may have. You’ll be asked to complete a Data Protection form and be given sufficient Lateral Flow Test kits for your drives.

The coordinator circulates the details of your appointments to our drivers and will allocate a driver for each journey, and then phone or email you to advise you of the driver’s name and description of their vehicle, so you will know who is coming to pick you up.

Does the driver contact me beforehand?

The day before the appointment the driver will contact you to confirm the pick-up time. This means you will know exactly who is taking you to hospital and at what time you should be ready.

They will also ask you if you have been experiencing any signs of COVID symptoms. If you have it will not be possible to travel with Bo’ness Car 4U.

Are there particular protections against COVID-19?

Your driver and the patient will both have to undertake a Lateral Flow self-test just prior to the drive. This provides a further level of protection for everyone and must be complied with.

The driver will confirm that you must sit in the back seat, diagonally opposite the driver.

We want to do everything we can to minimise any risks to our patients and volunteers and patients.

Anything else?

For each appointment both patient and volunteer must be happy with the arrangements made and each is free to refuse the drive if they feel unhappy about it.

You will be given a card with the driver’s phone number to make contact when your treatment is over and you are ready to be picked up again. The driver will take you straight home.

What happens in Adverse Weather or other prevailing conditions?

In the event of bad weather it is up to the driver to decide if they are happy to drive. If you, the patient, are not happy, please let our coordinator know ASAP. Our normal advice would be that if the Police and Transport authorities recommend that people should not drive, then we don’t. It may not always be possible to convey you to your place of treatment due to adverse conditions. It remains possible we may need to regrettably cancel your transport at short notice.

Do you send different drivers?

Yes we do, you may be at the hospital for a full day. In that event, one driver will take you there and another bring you home, but you will be informed of that at the time and given contact details of both drivers. The service is free.       

This is a great service. Can I do something to help you?

We are a small charity and rely on donations to continue providing our service. Visit our “Help us” page to see ways you can help.