The service was started in 2020, to replace a similar service previously run by Red Cross. The purpose of Upper Hutt’s not-for-profit free medical driving service is to help those with limited transport alternatives at grass-roots level (ie helping those without their own vehicle, or with no available family or friends to help them get to medical appointments, usually this is the independent elderly still living in their own homes with limited family assistance available) to reach their medical appointments throughout the wider Region.

Without this service, the alternative for these people would either be, for the patient to have to pay commercial rates and take public transport (however many financially or physically can’t do this), or in some cases patients will be forced to cancel out of medical appointments due to the cost and difficulties of using alternative transport to reach remote clinic locations, such as Wellington Hospital.

So, what does the service provide?

For those without other means of transport to reach their medical appointments, Upper Hutt’s Medical Driving Service provides “door to door” transport to the patient’s medical appointment throughout the Region; often for those needing extra mobility help, this entails the driver taking the patient through to the reception area of the clinic. Drivers will then generally wait to pick up the patient and return them to their home.

We have strived to keep the service “free” for those who need us, so as to not rule it out those who cannot afford transport costs, however we readily accept donations, as these are critical to enable the service to continue to run. 

We URGENTLY need more volunteer drivers:

Most of our drivers tend to be retired people, who want to give something back to the community. Our drivers need to use their own vehicle and be a safe and careful driver, with additional ability and patience to deal with a wide range of people. Our volunteers do not get paid (we are all volunteers), but the society uses the donations we receive to reimburse the drivers for the costs of running their vehicles. 

As a driver, you also need to be a person with patience and an ability to entertain yourself while waiting, as there is a fair amount of “waiting time” involved while patients are at appointments (a good time for reading, crosswords and a coffee). Demands for our services are erratic, governed by patients appointments and your availability, so it is not the case of “same time of day / same day of week” demand. For each job, the coordinator will check you if you are available (and if you are not, hopefully another driver picks up the request), you are not bound to make yourself available, jobs accepted must fit in with your schedule; but maybe your commitment will vary from once every two weeks, through to 1-2 requests per week. Drivers need to adhere to a set of rules set down by the society and need to be comfortable driving locally, to Lower Hutt, or to Wellington, as the typical destinations). Applicant drivers may be required to submit to Police Vetting.

Enquires:

Bill 0274456992

A “thank you” to Bill Lindsay for sending this article to The Upper Hutt Connection.

28/01/2026