Volunteers create blood biker service
A NEW charity is being established to help deliver essential blood and other urgent medical supplies across the region.
Northumbria Blood Bikes has been established by volunteers to deliver essential blood and other urgent medical supplies out of hours between hospitals and other healthcare sites across the north east.
The aim is to cover Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and County Durham, but starting initially from a limited area north of the Tyne while capacity is developed.
Owain Harris, from the group, said: “Outside normal office hours, when the internal courier service is not available, hospitals rely on taxis or couriers to transfer urgent medical supplies or test samples between hospitals and other sites.
“Blood Bike groups, across the country seek to carry out this service free of charge, ensuring the limited resources of the NHS can be used where it makes the difference.”
The charity is dependent on donations, solely run by volunteers, giving their own free time to run and deliver the service.
“In critical situations, blood or other medical items need to be delivered urgently in order to save a patient’s life,” said Owain.
“Blood bikes can quickly get through busy traffic reaching the destination sooner, and can mean the difference between life and death.”
Visit www.northumbriabloodbikes.org.uk for more details.
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Thursday 23 May 2013
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