The story of the Cycle Response Unit (CRU) with Tom Lynch MBE, MStJ & Tom Baverstock

In this episode, we are going to examine a story of one of the key innovations in pre-hospital care in the last 20 years and how it came into existence. We will look at the Cycle Response Unit or CRU that see’s Paramedics respond to emergency calls via mountain bikes across the nation. To do this we have the creator and founder of the CRU Tom Lynch MBE, MStJ.

Tom Lynch has channeled his excellent cycling and coaching skills, his self-belief, and his competitive spirit to develop and deliver the CRU.traveled the world as a BMXer, won numerous trophies and titles several times over, appeared on the front page of magazines, had fans on every continent and lived a life people can only dream of. In 1999 Tom got the go-ahead for a trial to set up the Ambulance Cycle Response Unit (C.R.U.) to answer 999 calls in the West End of London. He still had friends in the bike industry from BMX days and he made sure he got the best equipment available. The bike was fitted with the latest pre-hospital equipment and the all-important lightweight defibrillator. This marked the beginning of a legacy of paramedics on mountain bikes, but it wasn’t always an easy ride. we examine the history and background, Tom’s struggles and battles to get the project off the ground, some of the seminal cases in which the CRU has been involved, and some of Tom’s best moments.

In the conversation we examine:

• Tom Lynch's background growing up
• History & inception of the CRU
• Demographics served across London and wider teams across the UK
• Advantages over other vehicles over time and environment
• Seminal cases that the CRU have attended/made a difference to
• CRU Awards achieved
• Some of the battles and struggles Tom has faced and overcome
• What it gives back to both the community and the clinician.
• Some of the key takeaways

I hope you enjoy this episode with two fascinating guests.