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A volunteer-led service that helps older people get to hospital appointments is being extended to cover the Crotlieve District Electoral Area. The Home2Hospital scheme, supported by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and administered by Bolster Community, will run as a pilot from September until March 2027.
service user Theresa Garvey and volunteer driver Noel Evans.
The service was previously available only to residents of the Slieve Gullion and Mournes District Electoral Areas, where volunteer drivers transport people to hospital and healthcare appointments in South Tyrone, Belfast, Craigavon and Downpatrick. It was introduced with the Council's support after people in rural parts of the Slieve Gullion and Mournes area reported difficulty reaching appointments in Craigavon, Belfast and further afield, and the scheme proved successful.
Between April 2025 and January this year, the service provided 539 return journeys for 359 users in the Slieve Gullion and Mournes DEAs, with 368 trips for residents in the Mournes and 171 for those in Slieve Gullion. Thirteen volunteer drivers transported people to 21 different healthcare settings.
Almost one quarter of residents in Crotlieve are aged 65 and over, and a number have reported missing important hospital appointments due to transport issues. The new pilot is intended to address this, as well as helping people access additional support services and links to social groups and activities.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Glyn Hanna, said, "We are delighted to support the expansion of the Home2Hospital service to the Crotlieve DEA through this pilot project. Access to healthcare is essential, particularly for our older residents and those living in rural areas.
"This volunteer-led service provides practical support that helps people attend vital hospital and healthcare appointments, while also reducing stress and isolation for individuals and their families. The service also connects people with additional support services, social opportunities and their wider community, helping them maintain their independence and wellbeing."
driver Geraldine McCullagh and Home2Hospital coordinator Paula McCracken.
Cllr Hanna added, "Access to public transport is often one of the biggest barriers to attending hospital appointments, with Home2Hospital helping people maintain their independence and access the healthcare they need."
Bolster Community's Home2Hospital coordinator, Paula McCracken, said, "For more than 14 years, the scheme has been helping older people in rural communities attend essential hospital appointments that they might otherwise struggle to reach. What started as a transport service has become much more than that, with every journey providing an opportunity to build relationships, identifying emerging needs and help older people remain connected to the services and support that enable them to live independently."
McCracken added, "These foundations mean we are ready to begin supporting older people in Crotlieve while already serving those in the Slieve Gullion and Mournes DEAs. The real strength of the service is the volunteers, many of whom have been part of it for years, quietly giving their time and help to assist older people attend appointments they might otherwise miss.
"Home2Hospital is about more than just a phone call or a journey. I enjoy chatting with service users, building relationships and providing reassurance along the way. Knowing a friendly conversation can make someone feel supported and valued is what makes the service so rewarding for me."
If you would like to enquire about registering for this service, please call Bolster Community on 028 3083 5764 and if you are interested in becoming a volunteer also get in touch.
