Blood Bikes Wales Explained

Blood Bikes Wales
Type:Registered charity[1]
Registration Id:1143352
Location:Wales
Area Served:Wales
Focus:NHS motorcycle courier

Blood Bikes Wales is a blood bike charity based in Wales. Founded in 2011,[2] it provides a free motorcycle courier service to NHS Wales hospitals across the country, operating a fleet of motorcycles which are ridden and co-ordinated by volunteers.Blood Bikes Wales is a member of the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes (NABB) and co-operates with similar organisations in England.

Operations

Blood Bikes Wales was formed in 2011 and now has 23 bikes on the road in six of the local health boards in Wales:[3] Swansea Bay University Health Board (Swansea) Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (Merthyr Tydfil, Llantrisant) Hywel Dda (Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire) Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (Newport, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire), Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (Wrexham and Bangor),[4] [5] and Powys Teaching Health Board (Ceredigion, Newport, Swansea).[6]

Operating between 7pm and 10am on weekdays and 24 hours at weekends and public holidays, the charity provides a service enabling hospitals to avoid the need to use taxis or commercial couriers, saving the NHS money.[7]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, the charity responded by temporarily extending its service to operate 24/7.[8]

Accolades

In November 2019, Blood Bikes Wales was awarded the Organisation of the Year Award at the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) Welsh Charities Awards.[9]

On 2 June 2021, Blood Bikes Wales was awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service,[10] [11] the highest award that can be given to a voluntary organisation in the United Kingdom and equivalent to an MBE. Blood Bikes Wales were also awarded an additional special designation for providingimpactful support to their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.[12]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Charity Framework . . 14 November 2011.
  2. News: Blood Bikes Wales volunteer hospital missions may spread . BBC News. 10 February 2021.
  3. Web site: Bikers prove 'lifeblood' of vital out-of-hours service. 10 February 2021.
  4. News: Mum speaks of emotional handover of Blood Bike to Wrexham team in memory of daughter. The Leader. 10 February 2021.
  5. News: Blood delivery service sets up new home at Glan Clwyd Hospital. Rhyl Journal. 10 February 2021.
  6. News: Blood Bikes service launched across Powys. Country Times. 10 February 2021.
  7. Web site: Blood Bikes Wales riders saved the NHS £300,000 last year. Cambrian News. 10 February 2021. 26 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170226232000/http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/article.cfm?id=113151&headline=Blood%20Bikes%20Wales%20riders%20saved%20the%20NHS%20%C2%A3300,000%20last%20year&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2017. dead.
  8. Web site: Blood Bikes Wales: supporting the NHS through Covid-19. 10 February 2021.
  9. Web site: WCVA Organisation of the Year Award. 10 February 2021.
  10. Web site: View 2021 Queen's Award for Voluntary Service awardees list . The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service . . 8 June 2021 .
  11. News: Blood bikers recognised for hard work as Wrexham team receives new vehicle . The Leader . 3 June 2008 . 7 June 2021 .
  12. Web site: View 2021 awardee groups that received special designation for pandemic support . The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service . . 8 June 2021 .

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