A transport management business is helping transform the way healthcare is delivered across Rotherham – not through a cheque, but through the power of practical partnership. For the past 18 months, Knowles Fleet, in collaboration with BYD, has generously loaned a dedicated vehicle to support The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust’s new and pioneering portable X ray service, enabling clinical teams to take diagnostic imaging directly into patients’ homes.
Knowles Fleet have generously committed to the car loan, working in collaboration with BYD, through their partnership with Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity. The NHS charity is thrilled to have secured the car loan on a long-term basis, saving thousands of pounds a year for the Trust. The brand-new car has become an essential clinical asset to the Community X-ray team. It allows staff to transport a highly specialised portable X ray machine to patients who would otherwise struggle to attend hospital – including frail elderly patients, individuals living with dementia and those for who a hospital visit would be distressing.
This innovative X-ray service is one of only a handful in the UK, and its impact has been remarkable. By bringing diagnostics into the community, the team is helping people receive care earlier, faster and closer to home. Since the pilot began in 2025, the team has assessed over 100 patients out in the community, with this number increasing as the service becomes more widely available.
The benefits are already clear:
- Emergency admission avoidance, preventing unnecessary trips to A&E
- Reduced pressure on the ambulance service
- A calmer, more dignified experience for patients, especially those with complex needs
- Less strain on emergency and inpatient departments, freeing capacity for the sickest patients
Daniel Howard, Procurement Director at Knowles Fleet said: “We’re incredibly proud to support a service that is making a difference to people in our community requiring NHS care. When we learned that a loaned vehicle would give clinicians the ability to take X-rays directly into patients’ homes, it felt like a simple but meaningful way for us to help.”
The partnership with Knowles Fleet demonstrates that sometimes the right resource, at the right time, can be as powerful as a financial donation. Katie Martin, Clinical Lead for the project said: “Having access to this vehicle has completely changed what we can offer our patients. Many of the people we visit would find it extremely difficult, or impossible, to come into hospital for an X ray. Being able to bring the equipment to them means we can diagnose problems earlier, avoid unnecessary admissions, and provide care in a place where they feel safe and comfortable. It’s made a huge difference to our patients and to the wider health system.”
Knowles Fleet’s support has enabled the NHS to deliver a service that is not only effective but also beneficial for some of the most vulnerable patients in our community.