Wiltshire blood runners doubling up on jobs to save fuel
SERV Wessex say their fuel costs have shot up to £1,000 per month
Last updated 30th Jun 2022
Wiltshire's blood runners are facing monumental bills while delivering essential medical supplies because of the rising cost of fuel.
Bosses at SERV Wessex are warning if it goes on too long, or if fuel gets too expensive they may need to stop some services.
Fuel costs recently rose to around £1,000 per month.
The charity delivers blood, emergency medication and human milk all over South Wiltshire, Dorset and Hampshire.
The high vis heroes also resupply Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and critical care cars with the blood and plasma they carry every 24hrs.
This month alone the charity has amassed a total of 185 runs, most of which are done by volunteers using their own vehicles, paying for their own fuel. Around 22% of journeys aren't done by volunteers.
Robert Smith from Salisbury runs the charity:
"Our dispatchers who look after the riders and drivers when they're out, they're having to stack jobs and double up on the jobs to try and keep the mileage down for our volunteers."
Runners often relay deliveries to other blood bikers. But when other services are strained SERV Wessex sometimes asks their volunteers to go the whole way.
The charity's warning that the impact of rising fuel costs will be that they have to cut down on the service they provide and cut down on the days they operate.
Currently, they operate 24 hours on bank holidays and weekends and offer an 'out-of-hours' during the week.
The charity has started offering to pay 20p for every mile over 100 miles to help volunteers cope with the cost. So far very few people have taken the charity up on it.
SERV Wessex Chairman Robert Smith said:
"We all joined up and knew what the score was and want to help the NHS. But there's no stigma with those who need to claim.
"When I first started seven years ago it didn't even matter if I put a tank of fuel in my bike. Some drivers are using their own cars, obviously bikes do a lot more mileage. But, it's not just only the fuel, on a motorcycle we're probably only getting 5,000 miles out of a set of tyres because it's all on motorways and dual carriageways.
"We're being affected not only by fuel but the whole cost of living crisis."
The charity says it is always on the lookout for volunteers. You can find out more on the SERV Wessex website.