Home2Hospital at the Heart of Grandmother’s Cancer Recovery Journey

A Crossmaglen grandmother who made almost 30 return trips over six weeks from her home to Belfast City Hospital for cancer treatment has praised the volunteer-led transport service which played a key role on her road to recovery.

Maureen Morris, who celebrates her 80th birthday next February, used the Home2Hospital appointment service for older people and their families provided by Bolster Community which is supported by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. 

The lifeline service, previously available to residents in the Slieve Gullion and Mournes District Electoral Areas (DEAs), was recently expanded to include Crotlieve DEA where a pilot scheme will run until next March.

Designed to ensure people don’t miss vital healthcare appointments and can access additional support services and links to social groups and activities, Maureen can’t thank the Bolster Community charity and social enterprise and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council enough.

When diagnosed, she knew she’d have to travel to Belfast for chemotherapy treatment, sometimes several days a week, enduring a tiring daily round trip of just over 100 miles.

Following successful treatment, Maureen was able to ring the bell at the Belfast Hospital’s Cancer Centre and was delighted to be joined by her Bolster Community volunteer driver, Margaret Carragher, with everyone at the organisation delighted with the grandmother’s recovery.

Maureen, whose husband Gerry is currently using the Home2Hospital service to attend medical appointments in Dungannon, Craigavon and Belfast, said her recovery journey wouldn’t have been possible without Bolster, her driver Margaret and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

“Home2Hospital is an invaluable service. When I got in touch, staff took away my worry about getting to Belfast and Margaret has been brilliant. We had some craic on the journeys, and I was pleased she was with me when I rang the bell to mark the end of my treatment. Margaret was with me every step of the way,” said Maureen. 

“I don’t know what I would have done without her and Bolster and am pleased the Home2Hospital service has been extended to include Crotlieve DEA. I would encourage people to use it - all it took from me was one phone call and Bolster did the rest.”

Margaret added, “I was looking for something to do following retirement and heard about the Home2Hospital service and got in touch with Bolster Community and things progressed from there. Maureen said I made her treatment journey easy and that is a lovely compliment for doing something I enjoy. We have become good friends and there were tears in my eyes when she rang the bell at the end of her treatment.”

Bolster’s Home2Hospital coordinator Paula McCracken, who made sure there was always available transport, so Maureen never missed a chemo appointment, said the charity was delighted the devoted mother and grandmother recovered from her illness.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Glyn Hanna said, “I am delighted Maureen is doing so well. Access to healthcare is essential, particularly for our older residents and those living in rural areas, providing practical support that helps people attend vital hospital and healthcare appointments, while also reducing stress and isolation for individuals and their families. 

“Bolster Community also connects people with additional support services, social opportunities and their wider community, helping them maintain their independence and wellbeing. The volunteer-led service was recently expanded to include Crotlieve DEA and plays a key role at the heart of rural communities.”

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 important healthcare they need.”