Highland MSP Maree Todd has commended the dedication of the Highland & Islands Blood Bikes volunteers after a recent visit to their Inverness base.
Formed in 2019, the volunteer-run service couriers vital medical supplies and samples free of charge for NHS Highland.
Last year, the service covered 107,337 miles across the Highlands and Islands, facilitating critical deliveries for NHS Highland, pharmacies, laboratories, and hospitals.
In addition to its main base in Inverness, HIABB operates with support from three smaller bases located in Wick, Fort William, and Oban.
Commenting, Caithness, Sutherland & Ross MSP Maree Todd said:
“Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting the remarkable Highland and Islands Blood Bikes (HIABB) volunteers at their Inverness base where I was delighted to learn about the extensive support they provide to NHS Highland and our local communities.
“The service, led by a dedicated team of volunteers, transport urgent medical supplies and test samples, as well as assisting with patient discharge, all completely free of charge to NHS Highland.”
Maree Todd adds:
“HIABB played a significant role in the local response to Covid-19.
“Launching on the first day of lockdown, the team supported the delivery of test samples from across the Highland region to the laboratory in Inverness.
“Given the difficulties posed by our sparse and dispersed population, achieving a rapid turnaround of test samples was particularly challenging across the rural Highlands, but HIABB’s efforts supported our public health response, strengthening resilience within our Highland communities.”
Maree Todd MSP adds:
“A heartfelt thank you to the HIABB team for their invaluable and lifesaving work across the region.”
From this Autumn, HIABB will partner with the NHS Milk Bank and the Glasgow Children’s Hospital to deliver vital human donor milk to the neonatal ward in the Highland region.
