Blood bikes riding into Carmarthenshire
A service which allows blood and tissue samples to be transferred quickly from one place to another is being piloted within Hywel Dda University Health Board.
Blood Bikes Wales, a charitable organisation already working with three other health boards in Wales, has agreed a three year service from hospitals in Carmarthenshire.
Blood Bikes Wales, a charitable organisation already working with three other health boards in Wales, has agreed a three year service from hospitals in Carmarthenshire.
It is hoped the scheme will roll out to the other counties of Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire in the future.
As part of the scheme, volunteer motorcycle riders can be called on by the health service to deliver urgently needed blood, samples, donor milk and medical equipment. The volunteers compliment the University Health Board transport service over weekends.
Director of Strategic Partnerships for Hywel Dda University Health Board Sarah Jennings said: “We are delighted to be working with the Blood Bikes Wales charity, which already provides a professional, reliable service to other health boards in Wales. This is just one of many projects we are working on with the charitable and voluntary sectors. We hope, if the pilot is successful in Carmarthenshire and the charity can source additional volunteer riders, we may be able to role the scheme out to our other counties in the future. As a free service, it will support us to ensure the best use of NHS resources for patient benefit.”
Blood Bikes Wales started in February 2011, after a group of bikers heard about similar schemes in England.
Chairman and one of the founders Bernard Wright, 46, said: "Blood Bikes Wales was founded just over three years ago and we have worked hard at building the charity into an organisation that can deliver a highly professional, reliable and sustainable service."
The service has 45 riders and 110 members across south Wales with two people on standby every shift in each area.
Mr Wright said: "Our aim is to get medical items moved as safely and efficiently as possible. We’re aware of the difference our service is making in other areas and we’re delighted to be expanding and working for another health board. This charity is something we really believe in.”
As part of the scheme, volunteer motorcycle riders can be called on by the health service to deliver urgently needed blood, samples, donor milk and medical equipment. The volunteers compliment the University Health Board transport service over weekends.
Director of Strategic Partnerships for Hywel Dda University Health Board Sarah Jennings said: “We are delighted to be working with the Blood Bikes Wales charity, which already provides a professional, reliable service to other health boards in Wales. This is just one of many projects we are working on with the charitable and voluntary sectors. We hope, if the pilot is successful in Carmarthenshire and the charity can source additional volunteer riders, we may be able to role the scheme out to our other counties in the future. As a free service, it will support us to ensure the best use of NHS resources for patient benefit.”
Blood Bikes Wales started in February 2011, after a group of bikers heard about similar schemes in England.
Chairman and one of the founders Bernard Wright, 46, said: "Blood Bikes Wales was founded just over three years ago and we have worked hard at building the charity into an organisation that can deliver a highly professional, reliable and sustainable service."
The service has 45 riders and 110 members across south Wales with two people on standby every shift in each area.
Mr Wright said: "Our aim is to get medical items moved as safely and efficiently as possible. We’re aware of the difference our service is making in other areas and we’re delighted to be expanding and working for another health board. This charity is something we really believe in.”
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