Alex thanked for services to Patient Transport

Publication date 03 September 2019

Dedicated St John Scotland volunteer Alex Mackenzie has been thanked for his services to Patient Transport, as he steps down from his role after eight years.

74 year old Alex began volunteering with the Angus and Dundee-based service in 2011 after he retired from a career in the police.

The service sees volunteers give up their own time to help cancer and dialysis patients get to hospital for their treatment. Alex would often volunteer three days a week, and over the eight years he was involved, has driven thousands of miles to help local patients.

Photo of Alex Mackenzie being thanked

Alex said: "It was very rewarding being a Patient Transport driver, I made some very close friendships with patients over the years. When you are helping people regularly, you realise how difficult life is for them. Especially the dialysis patients who have to go to treatment three times a week, and it takes up the whole day, really. And the oncology patients, if it wasn't for the St John Scotland service, a lot of them would have to take taxis to hospital. I got a lot out of my time as a volunteer, and it's great to know the patients really value the service."

Presenting him with a special gift at a presentation last week, St John Scotland Patient Transport co-ordinator for Angus and Dundee, Sandy Bowman, said: "Alex has been an amazing volunteer for St John Scotland over the past eight years, and we are immensly grateful for his selfless dedication to help local people who really depend on the Patient Transport Service. Alex went above and beyond, not just picking up patients from home and driving them to hospital, but keeping in touch with them when they were admitted to check how they were, even occasionally supplying the odd bar of chocolate (or two) to keep their spirits up! After eight years' volunteering we thank Alex for the huge contribution he has made, and trust he enjoys a well earned rest!"

St John Scotland volunteers run Patient Transport services across Dundee and Tayside, Fife, and in Dumfries and Galloway. If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a volunteer Patient Transport driver, you can read more here.