Inverness trike charity collects elderly passenger from seventh floor of hospital
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A CYCLING charity reached new heights after taking a trike up to the top floor of Raigmore Hospital to pick up a patient.
Cycling Without Age Inverness takes mainly isolated and elderly people from their own homes or care homes for fun, sociable trips around the city using its five-trike fleet driven by volunteer ‘pilots’.
The charity – which is in the process of changing its names to Spokes For Folks to reflect its broadening work – also takes out elderly patients at Raigmore.
But after hearing there was a potential passenger on the seventh floor who was keen to take up the service but would struggle to get to the hospital entrance, the charity swung into action and after checking out the dimensions, squeezed the trike into the lift.
Mick Heath, a founder of the group, confessed the charity achieved the logistical milestone without seeking permission from NHS Highland bosses but had since repeated the feat with its blessing.
“In the interests of people’s wellbeing, we did it on the principle of seeking forgiveness rather than permission,” he said.
“I took the cleanest trike in. I was a bit nervous and apprehensive but no-one said anything as we got in the lift and when we got up to the seventh floor, they were absolutely delighted to see me.
“We were happy and confident we were doing the right thing but that is not to say we will not get a slap on the wrists!”
Unfortunately, the patient on the gastrointestinal ward did not feel well enough to go on the ride but another patient on the same floor took up the offer of a trip out with two patients from other wards.
“We had a lovely ride out from Raigmore across the Golden Bridge and to the Inverness Campus where we saw the baby swans,” said Mr Heath, who was joined by two volunteer pilots.
Since the trial run, Mr Heath has returned to the ward to collect a patient who managed to get into the trike with help from nursing staff. She was joined by her husband for a trip which included visiting Raigmore estate, where they lived for 38 years.
During the past year, Cycling Without Age Inverness has taken out more than 2000 passengers over the course of 500 outings thanks to the dedication of 80 volunteers.
It is changing its name to Spokes For Folks as it offers its services to people at Cheshire House in Inverness, severely disabled people living at home with carers and people living at home alone.
The charity is also looking for local businesses to sponsor the named electric trikes at a cost of £1000 a year.
A spokeswoman for NHS Highland said the hospital was “quite relaxed” about the trike in the building.
“This is a fantastic initiative and our patients who have had the opportunity to go on these trips have absolutely loved it,” she said. “They’ve come back more relaxed, happier within themselves and really enjoyed their trip.”
