Blood Bike Spirit of Rotary
BMW F800. Funded by the Telford Tree of Light Rotary Groups
‘Spirit’, as it is known, came to us courtesy of the Telford Tree of Light Initiative which is managed by four separate Rotary groups. Wellington Rotary, Telford Town Centre Rotary, Wrekin Rotary and Ironbridge Rotary.
Leading up to the Christmas period the general public make donations in memory of loved ones and the money raised is presented to deserving charities voted for by the Rotarians.
We were honoured that SSCBB were one of the beneficiaries and we were delighted to name the new bike Spirit of Rotary as per their request. The name encompasses the message of the mission of the Rotary groups.
Spirit retired after over 60,000 miles of service and in recognition of the ongoing support of the Rotarians, we have perpetuated the name in a new Spirit of Rotary.
What people say about us
“The blood bikes are vital to getting our life saving faecal transplants to critically ill patients with C. dificile infection”
Professor Peter Hawkey, FMT Service Lead, PHE Public Health Laboratory Birmingham
“On a regular basis we need to transport samples urgently, between Shrewsbury and Telford, and also from here in Shropshire to Birmingham and beyond. In the past it has been quite difficult, out of hours, to get those samples moving quickly, so it has made a huge difference to us to be able to rely on blood bikes to get those samples moving for us.”
Debbie Jones, Support Services Care Group Director Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
“The voluntary service the blood bikes offer us has been instrumental in widening the scope of our FMT service across the country and ensuring costs are a low as possible for the NHS”
Dr Vicki McCune, FMT Service Manager PHE Public Health Laboratory Birmingham
“There is certainly times when the quicker we can get results back, the better the outcome for the patient, so blood bikes are helping to save lives and, at the same time, they are saving the NHS lots of money”
Debbie Jones, Support Services Care Group Director Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
“We are so grateful to the volunteer riders who give up their time to courier blood products and urgent samples for testing between our hospitals and the regional NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) centre in Birmingham. Every minute counts when it comes to helping seriously-ill and injured patients and being able to call on the blood bikes round the clock helps us to provide safe, effective treatment and transfusions.”
Paula Gardener, Chief Nurse Burton Hospital Trust (covering Burton, Lichfield and Tamworth)
“We very much appreciate all of their efforts and the support they give both SaTH and the wider NHS.”
Debbie Jones, Support Services Care Group Director Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
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