The Gift of Life and Giving Back
On World Kidney Day, we had the pleasure of meeting Paul Chiplin, a dedicated volunteer car service driver for the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
Paul has strong connections to the kidney community, both professionally and personally. Through his volunteering role, he regularly transports people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to and from their dialysis treatments – providing not just a vital service, but also reassurance and companionship during what can be a challenging time.
His connection runs even deeper. Ten years ago, Paul’s wife, Marcelle, made the life-changing decision to donate her kidney to their nephew, Simon Chiplin, after he was suddenly diagnosed with renal failure at the age of 28, linked to high blood pressure.
As Paul explains:
“As a family, we all volunteered to be tested, including friends he worked with. My sister Gillian and Marcelle were selected to continue with further tests, and Marcelle was found to be a suitable match – even though she wasn’t a blood relative.”
The transplant was a success. Marcelle recovered quickly and was home within days, while Simon’s recovery took a little longer as the new kidney began to function. Today, both continue to do well and attend their annual check-ups as donor and recipient.
Alongside his volunteer work, Paul undertakes first-aid training to ensure the safety and well-being of the patients he supports. This training proved invaluable during a recent incident:
“With the training and experience I had, I knew how to stop the bleed using a fistula cap.”
Fistula caps – funded and distributed by Kidney Wales – are essential in managing bleeding from dialysis access sites and play a crucial role in patient safety during transport.
Healthcare professionals can order fistula caps by contacting:[email protected]
Reflecting on his role, Paul says:
“I volunteer as a car service driver because I want to give back to the community. I get great satisfaction from meeting all kinds of people and helping those in need.”
He adds:
“It’s a fantastic feeling to help others, and we are always looking for more volunteer drivers throughout Wales.”
If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer driver, you can find out more or apply via:
[email protected]
Or visit:
https://ambulance.nhs.wales/get-involved/working-for-us/volunteer-for-us