Lincolnshire Emergency Blood Bikes Service and healthcare firm NLG help county hospitals deliver vital newborn baby tests

The generosity of a healthcare business has helped an emergency courier charity deliver an important service for newborn babies over Christmas.

Healthcare recruitment agency and consultancy NLG has donated £1,000 to Lincolnshire Emergency Blood Bikes Service (LEBBS) to help cover extra fuel costs for a special pre-Christmas service that the charity provides.

LEBBS’ out-of-hours courier service transports essential medical items between hospitals and healthcare facilities in south and north Lincolnshire, including Boston, Grantham and Lincoln, and in the north at Goole, Grimsby and Scunthorpe.

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One key service the charity offers in the busy pre-Christmas period is a ‘heel prick’ blood spot sample service for newborns where their blood samples are sent by bike and vehicle courier from Lincolnshire hospitals for testing at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Rob Brunswick, LEBBS NHS liaison officer, who supervises the service, said: “At the end of play today (December 14) we had helped about 232 newborns.

“Over the six-week period from December 4 to the start of the second week of January we expect the full figure to be between 750 and 800 new babies across the north and south of the county,” he said.

LEBBS membership manager Stuart Harrison is part of an all-volunteer team at the charity which relies solely on public donations to support its activities.

Now retired after a career in the army and police, Stuart was also an IT software trainer at NLG and maintains close ties with the Hessle-based business.

“When we went into NLG we were looking for support for our six-week pre-Christmas ‘heel prick’ baby blood spot sample service,” he said.

“Normally, these samples are sent in the post, but in the run up to Christmas the post can be delayed so instead of using the mail the NHS trusts have turned to us to help them.

“But with fuel and running costs for the bikes and cars mounting ever higher we have been looking to gain £1,000 in additional funding towards the total £1,350 for the six weeks, which NLG were able to meet in full.”

Mark Hathway, managing director of NLG, said: “As a business we are fully aware of the need to ensure that key health services are maintained at the highest quality level possible.

“Although a baby blood spot is a routine procedure, the test screens for a range of inherited and potentially life-threatening medical conditions, often before symptoms appear.

“This means that it is important to get the samples to a laboratory for analysis sooner rather than later.”

NLG has also agreed additional monthly support to help the charity buy a new events vehicle to carry things that won’t fit on a motorbike, such as table, chairs, gazebo and banners.

Stuart added: “When we are not using it as an events car it can be used as a normal staff car, allowing non-bike drivers to drive; this is especially important in the winter months when the bikes tend to be used less.”

As a free service funded solely by public donations, LEBBS’ mission is to save lives, save money for the NHS, and promote a positive image of motorcyclists.

It has 135 member drivers, including 123 motorbike riders, all of whom have to undergo advanced rider skills and qualifications.

In addition to a fleet of 11 bikes, ranging from a 1300CC Yamaha to a 650CC Kawasaki, the charity also has five cars, a van and a trailer.

NLG, which offers a range of specialist services to the NHS, private healthcare institutions and healthcare professionals, also supports the Overseas Plastic Surgery Appeal (OPSA), the international children’s charity, and the Sheffield-based Support Dogs charity.