Every question we get about Here2Help, answered straight. Can't find what you're looking for? Email us at hello@here2help.ie — we respond within 48 hours.
Ideally at least 48 hours before discharge — but same-day bookings are usually possible. If your discharge is within 24 hours, email us at hello@here2help.ie with "URGENT" in the subject — we monitor inbox throughout the day and will reply as quickly as we can.
Hospital delays are common and we plan for them. The first 90 minutes of delay is included in the €100 base price. After that, waiting time is billed at €30/hour. There's no charge for rescheduling within reason if discharge is pushed to a different day.
Yes — most of our bookings come from someone other than the patient. Adult children abroad book for elderly parents in Ireland; partners book for partners; family friends book for neighbours. You book and pay; we coordinate with whoever is at the Irish end.
Our companions are skilled at handling this gently — most patients relax once they meet the companion. If a patient genuinely refuses, we don't force the issue. We don't charge the family for a job that couldn't be completed because the patient declined.
Yes — we cover most of Ireland. Drop-offs outside those cities include a transparent distance surcharge, quoted upfront before you confirm. Email us with the address and we'll quote.
The full pickup-and-home service: companion arrives at the ward, takes the discharge handover from nursing staff, helps with belongings, prescriptions and walking aids, drives gently home, helps your relative inside, gets them settled, texts the family. Estimated 1.5 to 2 hours total.
Extra hours are billed at €30/hour, in 30-minute increments. You can add them at booking time, or extend on the day if recovery is slower than expected. Common scenarios: post-op recovery (2-4 extra hours), full-day support (4-6 extra hours), oncology day-case crash period.
No. The €100 base is the €100 base. Travel surcharges for drop-offs outside the relevant city are quoted upfront before you confirm — not added afterwards. Hospital delay charges only kick in after the first 90 minutes, and we'll tell you about them on the day, not afterwards.
Stripe at booking (Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay) or bank transfer if you prefer. Hospital-referral bookings can be paid by the family directly or by an arranged invoice. We do not accept cash from companions or patients on the day.
Full refund if you cancel more than 24 hours before the booked discharge time. Partial refund (50%) if you cancel inside 24 hours. Full refund if we cancel the booking. If a booking can't be completed because the patient refuses the help on the day, full refund — see terms and conditions.
Our companions come from healthcare backgrounds — healthcare assistants, retired nurses, home-care staff, QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support graduates, final-year nursing students, and community volunteers with deep care experience. Every companion is Garda-vetted, reference-checked, and trained by us. Read more on our Our Companions page.
Yes — when we confirm the booking, we send you the companion's first name, photo, vehicle and registration number, and a direct phone number for the day of the booking. No anonymous arrivals.
Yes — every companion comes from a paid or supervised care/healthcare background. They are not registered nurses (unless they happen to be), and we never imply otherwise. For specialist medical needs, email us and we'll discuss what's right.
The companion rings 999/112 immediately if it's an emergency, and our 24-hour duty line as soon as it's safe to do so. We then handle the family communication. The companion stays with your relative until help arrives or the situation is resolved.
Yes — every Here2Help companion holds current Garda vetting under the National Vetting Bureau Acts. We verify directly with the issuing organisation, or apply for fresh vetting through Here2Help if the companion's existing vetting has lapsed.
Public liability and professional indemnity cover on every booking. Each companion's motor insurance is verified as appropriate for paid passenger carry before they take a Here2Help booking. Certificates available on request from hospitals.
Here2Help is a private discharge companion service. We are not a registered home-care provider with HIQA, because we don't provide clinical home care — we provide vetted, insured logistical and companionship support around hospital discharge. If HIQA registration becomes appropriate as we grow, we'll pursue it.
No. Referrals from hospital discharge planning teams are free. The patient (or family) pays Here2Help directly. There are no commission payments, kickbacks, or referral fees in either direction. See our For Hospitals page for the full referral pack.
Yes. We've operated in Irish hospitals and they accept paid private escorts where the patient consents and the escort is named on the discharge paperwork. Mention "Here2Help discharge companion" when you confirm your procedure and we'll provide our company details for hospital records on request.
We respond to discharge-planner referrals within an hour during working hours and confirm same-day collection wherever possible. We hold companion availability specifically for hospital referrals.
Three main groups: SPSV-licensed hackney drivers, current or former healthcare workers (HCAs, retired nurses, home-care staff, QQI L5 graduates, nursing students), and Garda-vetted community volunteers (Alone, ICA, Active Retirement, parish, GAA, SVP, Family Carers Ireland). See our Work With Us page for detail and companion FAQ for the practicalities.
€60 per pickup-and-home booking (1.5-2 hours), plus €20 for every extra hour the family adds. A typical week of 3 bookings is €180-€300+ depending on extensions. Full details on our Work With Us page.
No — companions are independent contractors. The relationship is the same as the one between Bolt and a hackney driver, or Uber and a delivery rider. You handle your own income tax on what you earn; we issue a year-end summary every January.