Driver FAQs

INSURANCE
It is essential that your Insurance Company knows that you do drive occasionally for Age Concern Bernwode (ACB). We have a standard form you may send to your Insurers if you wish, but they may confirm over the phone in which case you need to let the co-ordinator ( Judy Basford) know. Should any company want to increase your premium (highly unlikely) then ACB would pay the difference.

FREQUENCY OF JOURNEYS
Normally drivers are asked to take someone to an appointment once in every six to nine weeks. Patients will live in Brill or surrounding villages (Boarstall, Chilton, Dorton, Ludgershall or Piddington). Once a journey is agreed, the name and address of the patient will be supplied, together with their phone number, so direct contact may be made although the co-ordinator will confirm any arrangements with the patient.

AREA OF TRAVEL
The usual field of travel is Stoke Mandeville, hospitals in Oxford, dentists in Thame, Long Crendon or Bicester. Also to medical centres in Bicester and Haddenham. Lately we have been asked to take people to High Wycombe, Amersham and even Harefield Hospitals. We take Brill residents to Brill Surgery for which we make no charge. Any driver should feel free to request that there are certain places to which they would rather not drive.

CHARGES AND EXPENSES
If a passenger has a disability parking pass they will be asked to bring that along, otherwise the patient is responsible for any parking costs incurred. Drivers may opt to stay with the passenger, or to drop them off and collect them later either at a pre-arranged time or by contact on a mobile phone. Occasionally some may opt to return by public transport or to return with a family member or friend.

There is a voluntary donation of £8 which the passenger should give the driver at the end of the journey together with any parking costs. This charge applies to any of the trips, except that journeys within Brill are free. In addition, Age Concern Bernwode will reimburse a driver £20 for journeys beyond Aylesbury and Oxford.

Any driver going to Stoke Mandeville hospital will be issued with a pass, which when shown to the parking attendant usually results in a free exit from the car park. It may be just a case of showing the card and telling them your registration number as the new barriers recognise the number plate. (This does not work in every car park, and only Stoke Mandeville at present).

Passengers tell us how much they appreciate this service and the help given by our drivers: a friendly face does help! The times of the appointments often mean that a friend or relative of the patient who may wish to be there is unable to, and taxis are very expensive.