WARWICKSHIRE AND SOLIHULL BLOODBIKES AND THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL OF COVENTRY AND WARWICKSHIRE

That this House is extremely concerned that Warwickshire and Solihull Bloodbikes, a charity which provided its services free of charge, 365 days a year, delivering blood products around the West Midlands, was excluded from the tendering process initiated by the University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) and that the contract has now been awarded to a profit-driven company; notes that Warwickshire and Solihull Bloodbikes (WSBB) have completed over 7000 calls in all weather conditions since they were founded in 2012 and have saved UHCW nearly £700,000 during this time by utilising unpaid volunteers, paid for by public donations, to run this service and to invest in five vehicles; points out that WSBB has supported the Air Ambulance Service where blood is transferred on a daily basis for use in trauma situations; and condemns the decision of the University Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire to waste desperately needed money on giving the contract to a profit-driven private company rather than using a tried and tested voluntary charity.