Freewheelers EVS

A Vital life-saving motorcycle medical courier service will soon be up and running in Bath. A Chronicle appeal last week saw new volunteers sign up to join Freewheelers. Now a powerful bike can operate full-time in the city to deliver tissue samples, blood, drugs, x-rays and medical equipment overnight. Bath has been covered on a part-time basis by the Bristol branch until now but with the boost of new volunteers a full-time Bath service will zoom into action on Monday night.

Ian Moore, chairman of the Freewheelers, said: "As a result of the article last week I have had seven phone calls and from that there are four people who are definitely signing up to do their Institute of Advanced Motorists course, as well as one person who is already IAM qualified and will go on the rota immediately.

"There was a marvellous response. We had great trouble getting people to come forward before and would still like more volunteers."

Mike Cummin, a commander in the Royal Navy based at the MOD in Foxhill, is a rider.

He will ride with new Freewheeler Peter Hawkes and a Bristol rider on Sunday.

The pair will learn all the pick-up points at the hospitals and along with two other riders will start the service from Monday night.

"I have been riding motorcycles for 30 years for pleasure," said Cmdr Cummin.

"It is something I enjoy doing and it is going to be a useful service."

The arrival of the Freewheelers has been welcomed by the Royal United Hospital.

The free service is not only important because of the speedy delivery of vital medical items; the hospitals also save money where they would previously have had to use a taxi or an ambulance.

"It means response times will be quicker and the dedicated Bath bike will be able to do more work for us," said Daniel Messom, discharge co-ordinator at the RUH.

The powerful bikes used by Freewheelers are the same distinctive bikes as used by the police force.

Freewheelers is still appealing for new volunteers. It is also on the look-out for sponsors to pay the yearly running costs of the bike, which come to £1,500.