Fleetwood transport company serves NHS workers from hospital car park

A Fleetwood bus and coach company has set up a shop inside one of its buses for NHS workers in one of Blackpool Victoria Hospital's car parks.
By Rebecca Beardmore
Published 31st Mar 2020, 17:00 BST
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Sam Archer, 28, partner at the Copse Road transport firm Archway Travel, kitted out one of his buses with essentials and food and parked up in the car park outside the Education Centre at the Vic last Wednesday (March 25.)

Dubbed "The Heroes Hamper," the bus serves all healthcare workers, and provides them with local produce.

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Sam said: "I have a friend who works in the heart unit at the hospital and last week it took her over three hours to get what she needed from the supermarket after a long shift.

The Heroes Hamper was set up by Archway Travel's Sam Archer to provide essentials to healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.The Heroes Hamper was set up by Archway Travel's Sam Archer to provide essentials to healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Heroes Hamper was set up by Archway Travel's Sam Archer to provide essentials to healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Now that we don't have the school buses running, we have 30 buses off the road so I wanted to do something useful with one of them.

"It's all safe and takes into account social distancing, so anyone who works for the NHS, social workers or other healthcare workers just need to show us their ID and they can shout what they need through to us."

The Heroes Hamper stocks local produce from Derby Hill Dairies in Weeton, Wallings of Cockerham ice cream, cheese from J&J Sandham's in Barton, eggs from Staveley's in Coppull, and other items from Sharrocks Fresh Produce in Preston, Ribble Farm Fare in Longridge and Farmhouse Doorstep Deliveries in Inskip.

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Other necessities such as toilet rolls, cleaning items and tinned goods are also available.

The Heroes Hamper was set up by Archway Travel's Sam Archer to provide essentials to healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.The Heroes Hamper was set up by Archway Travel's Sam Archer to provide essentials to healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Heroes Hamper was set up by Archway Travel's Sam Archer to provide essentials to healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sam continued: "We are open seven days a week to those who need it.

"It's not there for the general public, there are other shops and delivery services for them to use. I want to focus on helping the people who are doing an amazing job in looking after everyone."

"They work so many hours and we need to give them something back, so helping them not have to queue up in shops after long shifts is our way of doing that."

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Sam is now hopeful that the scheme will be able to reach other hospitals, including Royal Preston, and Chorley and South Ribble.

The Heroes Hamper is available to healthcare workers, NHS staff and social workers, with ID or proof of employment.

It is open 7am to 7pm Monday-Friday, 7am to 5pm on Saturdays and 7am to 2pm on Sundays.

Related topics:NHSFleetwood