…of all the transport jobs I have had, this is the one I thoroughly enjoy. It is so rewarding. It’s the most satisfying job I have ever had.
When Ian John took early retirement from his job as a driver, he was inundated with recruitment emails looking for candidates in possession of an HGV licence.
“My general response to those was to delete, delete, delete. I didn’t even open them up to see what was on offer,” says Ian.
But on his return from a visit to Wales to see his brother, who has Stage 4 prostate cancer, one particular email that dropped into Ian’s inbox caught his eye.
“I was drawn to the tag line and the words ‘mobile cancer care unit’ jumped out at me,” says Ian.
“Cancer was at the forefront of my mind because I had just spent time with my brother and when I read the job description I thought ‘I can do this,’ so I applied.
Ian started driving the mobile unit based at Colchester General Hospital for in March 2024 and he sees it as a privilege to work with so many inspiring people.
“I was in the army for 22 years with various roles as a PT Instructor, transport instructor, a driving instructor and later in the civilian world as a car delivery driver.
“But of all the transport jobs I have had, this is the one I thoroughly enjoy. It is so rewarding. It’s the most satisfying job I have ever had.
“Every day I see these brave, inspiring patients from all walks of life who don’t want to be there on that unit, of course they don’t, but their positivity is a constant reality check for me. If only we could bottle that and give it out as medicine.
“You really do see the very best in people in my job, watching the strength they draw on and their mindset in such adverse conditions is incredible.
It has really made me realise how crucial the mobile unit is to help people through their very difficult journey. It is so important to be able to offer the service we do.
“It has really made me realise how crucial the mobile unit is to help people through their very difficult journey. It is so important to be able to offer the service we do.
“We have elderly people, often widowed, coping by themselves who come in and even though they have this horrible disease, they are so positive, and that is both humbling and inspiring to see.
“To be able to offer them this lovely, calm and safe space is vital, and I take my role in that very seriously.
“I am at the hospital by 7am on my workdays to prep the unit, and that takes a good hour before we take it out.
“It is critical when you are prepping for other people that it has to be done properly and to the highest standard.
“Those nurses want to hit the ground running when they come on to the unit. They don’t want any hassle or hold ups, they have enough to do.
“We all pull together to make the experience as smooth as possible and to give some time to the patients,
“They are not just numbers going through the system. We get to know about them and their lives away from cancer and before cancer.
“Come September/October patients are full of tales of their summer holidays. They are all just getting on with it. Some of them were war babies. They have amazing stories to tell.
“But every single person who comes on that unit needs all the respect we can give them. They are all stars to me.
“I don’t see myself as just a driver, I help out wherever needed. Anything that needs doing, I will do, willingly.
“The nurses are inspirational; they need 25 hours in the day. They also have to be psychiatrists and motivators. I don’t know how they do it, but I want to help in whatever way I can.
“My Job is 20 per cent driving and 80 per cent interacting with people and making them feel comfortable. I have had to perfect the art of distraction, so they don’t even feel the needle going in their arm. It’s important they feel at ease.”
Ian, 63, drives the units that park up at the Co-op in Stanway and Manningtree in East Sussex and North Essex.
“Taking the unit out to the community definitely takes the stress out of travel for a lot of patients, especially the elderly.
“They feel comfortable driving to the local supermarket, it’s a journey they probably do many times, and they know the roads,
“But if for any reason the unit can’t go out you can see the absolute fear in their eyes. You can see the panic where they realise they will have to drive into the city. Their anxiety is off the radar.
“I recognise that fear from my days as a driving instructor. I have seen it many times before and it’s not something you want to inflict on anyone dealing with what they are dealing with.
“The unit provides an invaluable service and as long as I am fit and healthy and allowed to carry on driving it, I will.”
…of all the transport jobs I have had, this is the one I thoroughly enjoy. It is so rewarding. It’s the most satisfying job I have ever had.
When Ian John took early retirement from his job as a driver, he was inundated with recruitment emails looking for candidates in possession of an HGV licence.
“My general response to those was to delete, delete, delete. I didn’t even open them up to see what was on offer,” says Ian.
But on his return from a visit to Wales to see his brother, who has Stage 4 prostate cancer, one particular email that dropped into Ian’s inbox caught his eye.
“I was drawn to the tag line and the words ‘mobile cancer care unit’ jumped out at me,” says Ian.
“Cancer was at the forefront of my mind because I had just spent time with my brother and when I read the job description I thought ‘I can do this,’ so I applied.
Ian started driving the mobile unit based at Colchester General Hospital for in March 2024 and he sees it as a privilege to work with so many inspiring people.
“I was in the army for 22 years with various roles as a PT Instructor, transport instructor, a driving instructor and later in the civilian world as a car delivery driver.
“But of all the transport jobs I have had, this is the one I thoroughly enjoy. It is so rewarding. It’s the most satisfying job I have ever had.
“Every day I see these brave, inspiring patients from all walks of life who don’t want to be there on that unit, of course they don’t, but their positivity is a constant reality check for me. If only we could bottle that and give it out as medicine.
“You really do see the very best in people in my job, watching the strength they draw on and their mindset in such adverse conditions is incredible.
It has really made me realise how crucial the mobile unit is to help people through their very difficult journey. It is so important to be able to offer the service we do.
“It has really made me realise how crucial the mobile unit is to help people through their very difficult journey. It is so important to be able to offer the service we do.
“We have elderly people, often widowed, coping by themselves who come in and even though they have this horrible disease, they are so positive, and that is both humbling and inspiring to see.
“To be able to offer them this lovely, calm and safe space is vital, and I take my role in that very seriously.
“I am at the hospital by 7am on my workdays to prep the unit, and that takes a good hour before we take it out.
“It is critical when you are prepping for other people that it has to be done properly and to the highest standard.
“Those nurses want to hit the ground running when they come on to the unit. They don’t want any hassle or hold ups, they have enough to do.
“We all pull together to make the experience as smooth as possible and to give some time to the patients,
“They are not just numbers going through the system. We get to know about them and their lives away from cancer and before cancer.
“Come September/October patients are full of tales of their summer holidays. They are all just getting on with it. Some of them were war babies. They have amazing stories to tell.
“But every single person who comes on that unit needs all the respect we can give them. They are all stars to me.
“I don’t see myself as just a driver, I help out wherever needed. Anything that needs doing, I will do, willingly.
“The nurses are inspirational; they need 25 hours in the day. They also have to be psychiatrists and motivators. I don’t know how they do it, but I want to help in whatever way I can.
“My Job is 20 per cent driving and 80 per cent interacting with people and making them feel comfortable. I have had to perfect the art of distraction, so they don’t even feel the needle going in their arm. It’s important they feel at ease.”
Ian, 63, drives the units that park up at the Co-op in Stanway and Manningtree in East Sussex and North Essex.
“Taking the unit out to the community definitely takes the stress out of travel for a lot of patients, especially the elderly.
“They feel comfortable driving to the local supermarket, it’s a journey they probably do many times, and they know the roads,
“But if for any reason the unit can’t go out you can see the absolute fear in their eyes. You can see the panic where they realise they will have to drive into the city. Their anxiety is off the radar.
“I recognise that fear from my days as a driving instructor. I have seen it many times before and it’s not something you want to inflict on anyone dealing with what they are dealing with.
“The unit provides an invaluable service and as long as I am fit and healthy and allowed to carry on driving it, I will.”
