A group of Aberdeen paramedics have launched a venture aimed at granting terminally ill patients around Scotland a final journey to a place or event that is special to them. Kieran Hutcheon, 30, was inspired to act after his mother was unable to even go out for a coffee with him before she died from cancer.
With co-founders Dan Bickmore, 37, and Karen Gill, 46, their Wish Ambulance Scotland charity has been formed. They plan to use a vehicle that is not as clinical as an actual ambulance, but can carry any necessary equipment for patients.
Their aim is to offer relatively simple trips such as going to a favourite beach.
Hutcheon told BBC Scotland News that his mother Larraine, 62, died in 2017. After her cancer diagnosis they had been heading out for a coffee in a garden centre, but she felt ill on the way and they had to turn back.
He believes having the option of such a make-a-wish ambulance could have allowed her to have the day out safely, thanks to medicine and condition management being available.
"This was the driver behind my involvement," he said.
Hutcheon came across a successful ambulance wish foundation in the Netherlands and began researching community approaches to end-of-life care. The idea for a similar venture was then formed.
The charity will be for both adults and children, with any condition, and fundraising is under way, with an initial target set at £25,000.
"It does not have to be anything extravagant," Hutcheon said.
"It's one last journey to somewhere of meaning, somewhere that has been special."
A wedding, graduation or football match could be among the events that could be attended, with special assistance, or a visit to a favourite park or woodland.
"Hospices and the NHS are great, however it's that extra mile, this creates an opportunity," he said.
Kieran and Dan hope the venture will be properly up and running in a few months.
His colleague Bickmore explained:
"Every day as paramedics we take people from A to B. It's kind of second nature, but it's always taking somebody to hospital.
"People at the end of life don't want to go somewhere clinical - they want to go somewhere that means something to them.
"They want to be around their family, they want to go to the wedding that they're going to miss next week, and a lot of that just isn't possible.
"But we need to do it safely, and have a robust service."
'Give back a lot more'
Hutcheon said initial start-up costs are high and fuel prices will be the biggest ongoing cost. They will need premises, vehicle accommodation, and somewhere to keep medication and oxygen.
"Once we have everything, our actual operational costs are low because we're not like other charities that take people to Disneyland for the weekend," he said.
"We're aiming to take people to the beach, to ice creams or to coffees, I feel like these opportunities give back a lot more than those big, big things."
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