Older residents in rural Cullyhanna and across South Armagh are being helped to attend hospital appointments by a volunteer transport service designed to remove the strain of complicated rural journeys.
Home 2 Hospital, operated by Newry-based charity and social enterprise Bolster Community, provides transport for people aged over 60 who live in Slieve Gullion or the Mournes and need to attend out-of-area hospital appointments. The service has recently been extended to the Crotlieve area of County Down.
Long journeys made more manageable
For people living in rural South Armagh, reaching specialist care can mean using more than one form of public transport. Theresa Garvey, who lives in rural Cullyhanna, regularly travels to hospitals in different parts of Northern Ireland and uses Home 2 Hospital because the alternative may involve several buses and taxis.
Without the scheme, some journeys could take twice as long. Rural transport services may be infrequent, while some timetables finish at around 6pm. That can leave older patients concerned that a missed bus or delayed taxi could mean missing an appointment.
Volunteer drivers remain available throughout the day. This means passengers do not have to depend on relatives or friends taking time off work, or on someone being available to provide the return journey. After an appointment, passengers can rest in the car on the way home rather than managing another public transport trip while tired or unwell.
Drivers provide practical help and company
Noel Evans has driven for Home 2 Hospital for five years. The scheme covers rural parts of Armagh and Down, where he said there was a significant need. Driving also allows volunteers to meet passengers and offer practical assistance during what can be a stressful day.
The service can be especially important for people undergoing demanding treatment. One woman receiving cancer treatment told Evans she might not have attended her appointments without the scheme. She had about 27 consecutive treatment sessions, with Evans and another volunteer sharing the driving. She was brought home in time for lunch after each appointment.
The journeys can provide companionship as well as transport. For people who might otherwise experience loneliness in rural communities, conversation in the car can become an important source of support, with some passengers opening up to their drivers.
Scheme expands beyond South Armagh
The service was highlighted by the Belfast Telegraph on 22 August 2026. Its expansion into Crotlieve adds to support already available to older residents in Slieve Gullion and the Mournes who face difficult journeys for specialist or out-of-area healthcare.
For residents who cannot rely on frequent public transport or family members, the volunteer model provides an organised journey to an appointment and a return trip home. The available information does not state how residents can apply for transport or volunteer as drivers.