High Peak cancer patients driver service will be axed without face mask donations

Howard Gunn needs a fresh, single-use surgical mask to wear every day while transporting people with cancer to urgent medical appointments - however he is now down to his last one.

The driver, who works for charity Connex Community Support, says without the masks the risk to patients would be too great.

However as ambulance services are now being reduced to emergency-only Howard does not know ‘what will happen’ to clients if the service stops.

He fears patients - including those in need of dialysis or others on blood-thinning drugs - may miss vital appointments if the service ends.

Howard said: “Everybody’s screaming out for the masks at the moment - even parts of the NHS.

“We’re struggling to get hold of any because we’re not an NHS facility despite the fact we’re providing cancer and essential blood treatments.

“Although people may not consider us frontline we’re a frontline service.”

Howard told how the mask he was currently using was donated by a GP surgery - though luckily he had ordered a thousand surgical gloves in the lead-up to lockdown.

He said: “This is more to protect patients against anything I might be carrying - if you’re stuck in a vehicle the virus is in the air.”

Anxious Howard normally drives 20 patients a week in his Vauxhall Combo people carrier.

However the service has been scaled back to 4-5 trips a week for patients with only the most serious conditions.

He is also making up to 30 journeys a week delivering shopping and prescriptions for patients.

Though the service is normally run with the help of two volunteers they have been stood down during the pandemic.

Howard said: “Because they’re volunteers they’re in their 70s and we don’t want them putting themselves at risk.

“Whereas I’m only 42 and quite healthy.”

If you can help with donations of face masks email Howard at [email protected] or phone 07881 841108.

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