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Highlands and Islands blood bike scheme needs more helpers


By Val Sweeney

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Highland and Islands Blood Bikes fundraiser Sharon Crabtree with vice chairman Graham Allan and chairman Ross Sharp.
Highland and Islands Blood Bikes fundraiser Sharon Crabtree with vice chairman Graham Allan and chairman Ross Sharp.

A PILOT out-of-hours lifesaving project to deliver blood and urgent medical supplies for cash-strapped NHS Highland could be set up by the end of the year – if sufficient volunteers and funds can be found.

A group of motorbike enthusiasts, Highlands and Islands Blood Bikes, is in talks with health bosses about setting up a free service to operate at nights and the weekends.

Volunteer bikers would transfer items such as medical supplies, test samples and equipment between Highland hospitals and other healthcare sites.

Fundraiser Sharon Crabtree said consideration was being given to a pilot scheme to transport samples from Nairn, Wick and Fort William to Raigmore between 5pm and 8am Monday to Friday and from 5pm on Fridays to 8am on Mondays.

“NHS Highland would like this to be set up this year,” she said.

“Nothing definite has been agreed at present, but we have been well received by NHS Highland.

“NHS Highland is aware that we require more volunteers and more financial stability before we can operate a pilot scheme for a few months.”

The health authority currently relies on taxis or couriers when hospital van drivers are not on duty.

Two specialist bikes have been provided by a Blood Bikes group in Dumfries and Galloway and it has been estimated that at least £3000 needs to be raised to launch the pilot scheme.

Ultimately, the group needs to raise £200,000 to get a more extensive scheme up and running that could also undertake home delivery of patient supplies and the collection and delivery of breast milk from donors.

A race night raised just over £1300 and a further £640 was raised when the group had a stall at the Tesco supermarket at Inverness Shopping Park.

Scotmid has also contributed a £500 community grant.

Members plan to raise awareness of the plans this weekend at Thunder in the Glens, the annual Harley-Davidson rally in Aviemore.

They will also attend the Emergency Response Day at Caledonian Stadium in Inverness tomorrow.


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