info@loughtonvoluntarycare.org.uk || 020 8508 6114
Loughton Voluntary Care
Going the extra mile in Loughton for over 50 years
Transport Service
The LVC Transport Service helps residents who live in the IG10 postcode area who would have great difficulty in using public transport on their own. The service is delivered by volunteer drivers using their own vehicles to drive such clients, helping them maintain their health and independence.
Our main priority is to get older people to their medical appointments and trips typically range from doctors and hospital appointments to local clinics, GP, dentist and optician surgeries. LVC is happy to take a family member or carer in the car as an escort. Our drivers will wait at the hospital and drive you back.
Our drivers always give extra care: ringing at the door and waiting, ensuring that you are safely seated in the car, making sure you get safely to the correct department, waiting and then you back inside you front door safely.
Regular destinations include:
Hospitals: St. Margaret’s Hospital, Epping, Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, Rivers Hospital, Sawbridgeworth
Clinics: Rectory Lane, Loughton, Buckhurst Way, Buckhurst Hill, Silverthorn Centre, Chingford
Surgeries: Any in Loughton and to neighbouring towns
LVC has a few drivers who offer to go the extra mile – to London Hospital, Barts, London Chest Hospital, Moorfields (Stratford only), Herts & Essex and Addenbrookes but it is harder for us to guarantee these requests. In the case of any requests within the London Congestion Zone we would ask clients to cover the cost of this.
LVC is not a taxi service; no charge is made for the service and drivers’ costs are met by LVC. We are very happy to receive donations and if you want to find out what size of donation would cover the cost, please ask the driver or phone the office to enquire. All drivers have a contribution box you can use to ensure complete discretion.
Unlike commercial taxi firms we do not have drivers waiting at the office, so we ask for at least one week’s notice of any requests. It is usually a matter of “first come, first served”, so best if you phone as soon as you receive an appointment. LVC is unable to guarantee any particular driver; we depend on the availability of our volunteers.
If we cannot help, we will give you enough time to make other arrangements and suggest options for example Community Patient Transport.