‘An urgent need’: Dry July helps fund vital transport service

Grant was at home on a summer day in January this year when he started getting a pins and needles sensation in his arm. 

About two hours later, that feeling had spread up his arm and into his face. 

“I thought, ‘this is not good’,” Grant said. 

Attending the Emergency Department at Frankston Hospital, he was taken straight through and given a CT scan. They told Grant that he had not had a stroke or heart attack – but they had found something else – a little tumour. 

Sent on to The Alfred, Grant met a doctor and was offered the choice of getting it removed or treating it. He was booked in for surgery a week later and had the operation on February 24, staying in hospital for just three days, before having a course of radiation therapy.  

“The last five months have been a bit of a blur,” he said. 

Just getting to the hospital to receive cancer treatment is difficult for some patients. Worryingly, some patients miss appointments because they can’t afford the transport costs. 

Jodie Wall, the Deputy Operations Manager for Alfred Health Radiation Oncology, said facing cancer was “tremendously challenging for patients and their loved ones”. 

“We strongly believe that every patient deserves access to the best possible cancer treatments,” she said. “We know that the right treatment, at the right time, can help save lives. 

“Our radiation oncology department sees firsthand that there is a genuine and urgent need to ensure that all patients can make their treatment appointments.” 

Living in Langwarrin, Grant needed to go to The Alfred five days a week over six weeks for chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. 

Not allowed to drive while undergoing treatment, Grant said he had been concerned about how he was going to get to and from The Alfred. 

“I had people who could’ve given me a lift, but not for 30 days,” he said. “And everyone I know works during that time, so I couldn’t ask them for that – and I wouldn’t want anyone to either.” 

Fortunately, he was able to receive transport from the Red Cross, saving a huge amount of time. The drive took about 40 minutes, but on the few days he used public transport, a round trip took five to six hours. 

“I couldn’t have done it without it,” Grant said. 

Funding from Dry July goes towards a vital transport service. While some patients have the means or support network to make their appointments, there are others who may not be able to afford the associated costs or can’t access the transport options due to their health or location, such as Grant. 

This funding will allow us to provide patients who cannot access the Red Cross service, transport to and from The Alfred via taxis or ride-share services, where they are physically able to do so. 

Dry July encourages people to give up alcohol for the month of July and raise money for people affected by cancer. Join us this Dry July and help The Alfred continue to support people like Jim who are affected by cancer.

Other projects that are hoped to benefit from Dry July funds include scalp cooling equipment, which helps reduce hair loss during chemotherapy (a common side effect of treatment), patient wellbeing initiatives and a music therapy program. 

Click here to join Dry July for The Alfred.

Each year, The Alfred treats thousands of people living with cancer. Alfred Health’s world-class cancer service includes five radiotherapy bunkers – three at The Alfred and two at Latrobe Regional Hospital – as well as 40 inpatient beds, 18 day-admission chairs and 10 cancer clinical trial chairs, among other things. 

Cancer care for Australians is set to be transformed as work continues on the Paula Fox Melanoma and Cancer Centre at The Alfred, which is set to be completed in early 2024. 

You can also read more about Dry July in our most recent edition of Impossible.