Barnsley transport service hits the road

We’re delighted to have launched a new transport service which provides people living with cancer in Barnsley with free travel to and from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals for treatment.

Our new service will start from Monday 6 December, and provides free, safe travel from Oakwell Stadium for people undergoing cancer treatment.

It aims to alleviate the transport cost burden – which can amount to hundreds of pounds per week – for people living with cancer in Barnsley who need to travel to Sheffield for treatment. At times, travel worries can be the difference between people accepting and declining treatment.

Journeys will operate twice daily at 9am and 1.30pm and bookings can be made via Weston Park Cancer Charity’s Helpline – 0114 553 3330 (Option Two) – or by emailing transport@wpcancercharity.org.uk.

The new service is being operated by an amazing team of volunteer drivers who, like with our Chesterfield transport service, will generously give up their time to ensure people in Barnsley can access potentially life-saving cancer treatment at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

We’re incredibly grateful for the priceless support of Barnsley Football Club, Barnsley Council and South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw ICS Cancer Alliance to get this vital service up and running.

Legendary cricket umpire, Dickie Bird, has also provided significant sponsorship of our new transport service. Dickie was on hand, alongside Bobby Hassell – former Barnsley FC player, current academy manager and Weston Park Cancer Charity ambassador – to officially launch the service at Oakwell stadium.

Rigorous safety measures have been put in place to keep passengers and volunteers safe at all times, including twice weekly Covid-19 testing for all drivers and thorough cleaning of all vehicles before every journey.

Our Barnsley transport service will add to our successful Chesterfield transport service, which launched earlier this year and has been hailed as ‘fantastic’ for people going through cancer treatment.

Emma Clarke, our chief executive, said:

“We don’t want anyone to ever have to face the decision to decline treatment because travel to and from their appointments is the barrier.

“A cancer diagnosis is a very difficult thing for anyone to hear. Imagine that the recommended treatment is miles away from your home and you have no ability to make that journey.

“This is why we are expanding our transport service to Barnsley and the surrounding areas. We’re extremely grateful for our incredible team of volunteers and to everybody who has supported the launch of this priceless new service.”

Jean Cryne – shareholder at Barnsley Football Club and widow of former Reds owner Patrick Cryne, who sadly passed away from cancer in 2018 – also contributed a significant figure towards the service’s launch.

Jean said: “Weston Park Cancer Charity are an integral organisation to our region. Year after year, they touch the lives of cancer patients and the service provided to all ages is incredible.

“My family experienced this care and compassion first-hand, and I am humbled that we are in a position to sponsor this service and give something back that will benefit so many.

“Travelling and public transport can be a significant stress to those who must undertake the journey to Sheffield. Making Weston Park accessible to those that require treatment, without any cost, is so significant.

“Together with the Football Club, the people of Barnsley meant a great deal to Patrick – the two fit hand-in-hand. He would be immensely proud that this free service, based at Oakwell, will aid thousands of Barnsley-based cancer patients across the coming years.”

Sara Andrews, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Macmillan Trust Lead Cancer Nurse and Manager of The Well Complementary Therapy Service, said:

"The new shuttle bus service to Weston Park will be a huge benefit for Barnsley patients and we are thrilled that Weston Park Cancer Charity and its partners have enabled this to happen.

"This service will give our chemotherapy patient community the opportunity to seek out transport support when attending Sheffield for chemotherapy treatments, by providing transport from a designated base in the town centre, running at key times throughout the day to get them to their appointment on time - and to always be dropped off right at the door of the hospital.

"This kind of approach is used elsewhere in the region and it will be a huge plus for our patients as they will not have to rely on their own transportation or that of family or friends to take them to Weston Park.

"This transport is available to all patients, but for those without the financial means or the support network this will be a lifeline, and we are very happy that we are able to ensure that Barnsley chemotherapy patients can get to Weston Park when they need to.

"We will be putting more detailed information out on how to sign up and where to meet for the new service, but please can our patients speak to their Cancer Support Worker or Cancer Nursing team in the first instance if this is something that they will require."