The launch of a new health shuttle service is making it a lot easier for people in the Kawerau district to manage their health.

An opening ceremony and blessing was held for the St John Kawerau Health Shuttle at the town's St John building on Tuesday.

The new service boasts two new vehicles, a van and a five-seater car, and nine freshly trained volunteer drivers who will undergo training and man the service.

It is for anyone in the Kawerau district who experiences barriers getting to their health appointments, either within Kawerau or at hospitals in Tauranga, Whakatāne and Rotorua.

Anyone needing help getting to an appointment can book a shuttle by phone and be picked up from their homes and driven home again after their appointment.

The service is free, although a koha is welcome and for patients eligible for a travel allocation, these can be administered through the service.

The new service was instigated by a phone call to St John from Kawerau Mayor Malcolm Campbell in December 2019.

Campbell saw the community need for help in getting to medical appointments, particularly for elderly people who are no longer able to drive, and asked that St John consider providing a service to the district.

Kawerau District Council has been a strong supporter of the service since that time.

A working group of community volunteers was formed and the community was surveyed as to the need for the service.

With no taxi service in the town, a limited bus service and many people needing to access medical services out of town, it was decided to go ahead.

The two vehicles were purchased in July last year, thanks to $40,000 funding from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council via the St John Fleet Division. Funding for the service has also been provided by Kawerau Training and Education Trust and a gift from the whānau of the late Tracey Neilsen, who was a dedicated St John member.

Regional council chairman Doug Leeder and Kawerau deputy mayor Faylene Tunui officially handed over the keys of the vehicles to long time St John member Lyn Price.

St John Community Health Services deputy chief executive Sarah Manley addressed those attending, saying it was the service's 54th shuttle service that had been launched nationwide since the first service was launched in 1991 in Hamilton and Feilding.

Since then, 93 vehicles have been introduced into the fleet, and this was the first time two vehicles had been launched together. In the Eastern Bay a similar service was launched in Ōpōtiki in August 2020.

'Being able to get to medical appointments supports patients and whānau in proactively managing their health and for the health system to provide continuity of care. This is part of our work to improve access to services and to generate more equitable health outcomes in our communities,” Ms Manley said.

Campbell was unable to attend the launch as he was spending time with family but Deputy Mayor Faylene Tunui, who had been closely involved with the process, spoke for the council, thanking all those who had worked to bring the shuttle service to the town, including those members of the community working group.

She says the service is about more than just transport but to advocate for patients where necessary.

She gives an example of someone who might be given an appointment at 8am that required a two- or three-hour drive to get to.

'Some of us just need a little bit of a hand to advocate on our behalf.”

A dedication was made by St John Chaplain, Reverend Tom Poata and a blessing in te reo Maori was made by Matua Te Haukakawa Te Rire.

Nine volunteers have completed an intensive training course to become drivers for the shuttles and more volunteers are currently going through the training course. The training includes first aid and cultural safety aspects.

Most of the volunteers have previous experience with St John, including Brian Dent, who was an ambulance officer for 12 years.

They welcome the opportunity to be out and about and giving back to the community.

Bookings for the shuttle can be made by calling 0800 824 325 at least 24 hours ahead of the scheduled appointment.