Cornwall Blood Bikes

Wadebridge Rotary Club welcomes a speaker from Cornwall Blood Bikes


Cornwall Blood Bikes

Members of Wadebridge Rotary Club recently had a very interesting and informative talk about Cornwall Blood Bikes, by one of their volunteer riders, Andy Bellamy.   As a bonus, he brought along one of the motor cycles so that members could have a good close-up look and also to pose on the bike for photographs.   (Club President Mick had to be persuaded to mount the bike).

The group consists of self-funding volunteers who live in various parts of Cornwall.   They provide an out-of-hours delivery service from 5-00pm to 7-00am on weekdays and a 24 hour service at weekends and Bank Holidays.   They have an agreement with the NHS to deliver essential whole blood, pathology samples, medication, medical equipment, medical notes and even donor breast milk to hospitals and hospices throughout Cornwall and beyond.   If it fits in the pannier, it can be transported.

Calls for urgent deliveries from midwives, nurses and doctors are received by the group co-ordinator, who ascertains that the need is urgent (and can’t wait until the morning) and is of a medical nature.   Deliveries and collections are made to their nearest hospital enabling a fast and efficient service.   The co-ordinator checks the rota to see which volunteer is available and arrangements are made.   The furthest distance travelled is to a children’s hospice in Bristol, but a relay service is arranged with affiliated groups, so that riders do not have to ride long distances and return.   Interestingly, Andy likened the system to the Rotary Wheel, with the hub representing the co-ordinator, the spokes being the route devised and the cogs being the volunteer riders.

No payment is received or expected for the service.   There is a considerable financial saving to the NHS with some hospitals, through ignorance of the service, still using costly couriers or private taxis.   It is estimated that in 2017 in excess of £175,000 was saved by the local NHS with journeys covering over 96,000 operational miles completing 2100 jobs.   During normal working hours, the NHS uses its own transport.

Andy told us that they ride in all weathers except for icy road conditions.   In these cases a small van based near St Austell is used as a safety measure.   They ride to the speed limits and rarely use the ‘blues and twos’.

A registered charity, the group relies on fund raising and donations.   The money is used to maintain the motorcycle fleet and to purchase newer bikes.   Current bikes are usually ex-police, with considerable mileage on the clock.   The volunteer riders do not receive (and do not expect) payment.    They are members of the National Association of Blood Bikes whose membership of blood bike groups is countrywide, encompassing hundreds of qualified advanced motor cyclists.

Not many people know of the existence of blood bikes and Andy was thanked for his contribution.   To find out more, then their website is: www.cornwallbloodbikes.org.

Report by Mick Goward.   Photo of the president by Paula Martin


Related pages...

Wadebridge School Peace Garden Opened

more Wadebridge Rotary donated £500 (half from our own funds and half from a District matching grant) towards the cost of creating a Peace Garden at Wadebridge School and were also heavily involved in the construction work.

Presentation to Rotary's 'New Heli Ambassador'

more Wadebridge Rotarian promoted the new Air Ambulance appeal to Rotary Clubs in Cornwall when over £30,000 was raised.

Snowdrops

more Wadebridge Rotarians help to plant snowdrops at Pencarrow House for 2013 Snowdrop Sunday.

Rotary Ride For Life

more Wadebridge Rotary raises funds toward prostate cancer research.

Sponsored Walk for Prostate Cancer

more Wadebridge Rotarian raises £500 for this good cause.

Rotary Collects towards Cornwall's Air Ambulance

more Wadebridge Rotary Club holds a street collection to raise money for the new Air Ambulance

Donation to Wadebridge Foodbank

more Wadebridge Rotary Club donates to Wadebridge Foodbank, from Wheels 2018.

A mini bus for Wadebridge

more Concern Wadebridge now has a specially adapted mini bus for wheelchair users without a vehicle.

Riding for Prostate Cancer Charity

more Wadebridge Rotarians, friends and young family mount a static cycle for charity.

Cycle Ride to Conquer Polio

more Wadebridge Rotary Club holds a static cycle ride to combat Polio

ROTARY TEA PARTY

more Wadebridge Rotary Club holds a tea party in aid of the 'End Polio' campaign plus a free blood pressure check.

VISIT TO PEOPLE & GARDENS

more Wadebridge Rotary Cub members visit this project, previously supported by the club

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

more Wadebridge Rotary Club hosts a meeting with local community organisations

ROTARY CLUB WELCOMES WADEBRIDGE MP

more Wadebridge Rotary Club entertains Scott Mann, MP.

Rotarian Tim Lunt giving information

COMMUNITY SHOWCASE

more

Rotarian Ian Thurtle

ROTARY RIDE FOR PROSTATE CANCER

more

PEOPLE and GARDENS CIC

more

Cheque presentation

THE COVE MACMILLAN SUPPORT CENTRE

more Wadebridge Rotary Club supports the project with a £3000 donation from Wheels 2015

LOAVES AND FISHES COMMUNITY CAFE

more Wadebridge Rotary Club enables more equipment to be purchased

FOODBANK COLLECTION FOR CHRISTMAS

more Wadebridge Rotarians assist in a Foodbank collection

FOODBANK COLLECTION AT TESCO

more Wadebridge Rotary Club assists a Food Bank collection.

CYCLING FOR THE CHESTNUT APPEAL

more

CPR AND DEFIBRILLATORS

more Wadebridge Rotary Club presents £1000 to FLEET

Donation to Friends of Bodmin Hospital

more

Cornwall Search & Rescue Team

more

Wadebridge Club's Success at Quiz

more Members of Wadebridge Rotary Club come first at the Annual Quiz Night to raise funds for the Wadebridge Hospice.

Donation to Merlin Centre

more Wadebridge Rotary Club donates £5000 from Wheels 2014.

Friends of Bodmin Hospital

more Wadebridge Rotary Club donates £2500 to the Friends of Bodmin Hospital

ROTARY PRESENTATION TO NCI

more Wadebridge Rotary Club supports the local National Coastwatch Institution.

Rotary Rides to the Rescue!

more Wadebridge Rotary Club enables riders from local RDA group to attend their National Championships

Cornish Hospice Care receives a Cheque for £6000

more

Rotary Supports Riding for the Disabled

more Wadebridge Rotary Club donation towards the upkeep of a horse

Charity Contributions from 84 Charing Cross Road

more Wadebridge Rotary Club benefits from play sponsorship

Presentation to local Riding for the Disabled Group

more Wadebridge Rotary Club makes donation to Riding for the Disabled Group

Wadebridge Club Helps Charity Cyclists

more Mwembers of Wadebridge Rotary Club support a Rotary Charity Cycle Ride

Fines Raise Money for Charity

more Wadebridge Rotary Club members "behaviour" raises fines for Help For Heroes

Presentation to RABI

more Wadebridge Rotary Club presents a £1000 cheque to RABI

PRESENTATION TO RABI

more Wadebridge Rotary Club supports RABI

Significant Achievement Award

more Wadebridge Rotary Club receives a Rotary International Award for work with Dementia Support Groups.

Wadebridge Dementia Action Alliance

more

Rotarian Receives Beach Care Award

more

Presentation to Marine Conservation Group

more Wadebridge Rotary Club donates to Polzeath Marine Conservation Group

Cornwall Coast 2014

more Photographs of the event held by Wadebridge Rotary Club in April

back to page above this...

WHAT WE DO IN WADEBRIDGE

back How Wadebridge Rotary Club helps in the community