Fuel costs adding pressure to blood bike service
Severn Freewheelers says fuel bills could rise by 20% this year
A charity supporting the NHS says it's feeling the strain of high fuel prices.
Severn Freewheelers, which delivers essential medicine and blood samples to hospitals in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, is counting the cost of fuelling journeys made by volunteers as fuel prices surge as a result of the war in Iran.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane for oil heading to Europe, has caused havoc with petrol prices.
Charity vice-chair, Simon Grover, said it's an issue affecting everyone, and it could add an extra 20% to their fuel bills.
"They are £20,000 a year," he said, adding that recent challenges with damaged bikes from poor road conditions mean that additional costs are already mounting up.
"We're talking about a combined total of another £10,000 a year, which is on top of the £85,000 we've got to raise each year normally, makes it 95. It's added pressure on us."
Moves to make service cost-effective
Simon told us they are working with the NHS to ensure resources are used for maximum cost effectiveness.
He said there have been cases of riders going from Swindon to Bristol, and being told on their return to the Great Western Hospital that there's another assignment for Bristol.
"On top of it being an extremely boring ride all the way down the M4 and back, it's a waste of time and money," he said. "So we're looking to work with our partners to get them to think, oh, we're possibly going to have something else in half an hour. Can you wait? And then we'll get two jobs done for the price of 1, as it were."
The aim is to ensure that riders have all the cargo they need to deliver to multiple places during one trip.
An incredible act of kindness
Simon told us that the charity had recently been the recipient of some unbelievable generosity.
He explained that a rider was filling up at a petrol station in Gloucester, putting around £30 worth in the vehicle.
But upon reaching the counter to pay, the rider was told the previous customer had already paid their bill.
By the time the rider had got back out into the forecourt to thank the person, the driver had already left.
Simon said it was "really touching" and said: "If you're that person, thank you very much!"
We can support the charity via their fundraising page here.