Hospitals, including Community Hospitals and GP Practices, within the Highlands and Islands region rely on set collection times and days from the NHS vans, for most rural GP Practices there is no NHS van available, so they must rely on the postal service.

This rigid service cannot accommodate cerebral spinal fluid and cancer samples, which are time critical. They need to be collected shortly after the sample has been taken to avoid the sample spoiling and delivered within a set timeframe for analysis at the designated laboratory. The same applies to urgent medication, especially COVID, chemotherapy and other cancer medication. The sooner this vital medication reaches the patient, the quicker the patient can recover.

Our service is flexible to suit the needs of the NHS, available 365 days a year and is 100% free to the NHS. All members are volunteers willingly giving up their time for a worthwhile and potentially lifesaving cause. Distance is not an issue and the more rural GP Practices, Community Hospitals or residents are so grateful for the service HAIBB provides. Our service enables a faster diagnosis of patients' samples and quicker medical treatment, resulting in an enhanced quality of life for residents in the community and a direct benefit on their health and wellbeing. As well as, protecting and assisting the vulnerable and elderly members of the community.