The ambulance service is looking for volunteer car drivers to provide a lifeline for patients who have routine NHS appointments.

The region’s ambulance service needs more volunteers to sign up to its ambulance car service (ACS).

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) Trust already has 138 volunteer car drivers across the region who take patients with no mobility problems to and from hospital and treatment centres.

However, it is now looking for volunteers in the areas where it operates Patient Transport Service (PTS) in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, South Essex, North Essex, West Essex and Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

Liz McEwan, head of urgent and scheduled care for EEAST, said: “The ambulance car service is a vital lifeline for patients who are unable to make their own way to medical appointments.

“For the patients they help, ACS volunteers are the face of the service. Many will be travelling to hospital for the first time in many years whereas others will make regular journeys.

“It can be stressful for the patient, irrespective of the number of times they visit hospital, so a friendly face and understanding attitude will always put them at ease.”

Prospective volunteers will need to pass an enhanced disclosure and barring service check (DBS), be in good health, hold a clean driving licence and have a safe, clean and reliable four-door vehicle.

Volunteers are not paid for their time but do receive an allowance to compensate for driving expenses.

Find out more using #PTStakeover on Twitter @EastEnglandAmb,on Facebook, YouTube or visit the EEAST website.