Hundreds of volunteers on their motorcycles are supporting the National Health Service (NHS) by transporting blood and other test samples from laboratories to hospital wards free of charge.
The Blood Bikes Scotland (BBS) is an organisation of 120 volunteers that serves the NHS across the Lothians, Tayside, Borders and Fife.
While their name suggests the organisation only transports blood – and although this is mainly what they are asked to transport – they could be asked to deliver test results, medication and equipment. Occasionally, the fleet of 14 motorcycles and three cars must deliver physical notes or x-rays.
Gordon Bertram, who has been volunteering with BBS for six months, said: “I’m a long-distance lorry driver and I work Monday to Friday driving. I don’t work weekends, so I volunteer for Blood Bikes Scotland.”
The volunteers work in shifts seven days a week, including public holidays. In 2021, they covered 9,881 requests for transport, saving the NHS hundreds of thousands of pounds in fees; money that can be utilised for frontline services instead.
On 26 November, Gordon and some of the volunteers, along with two motorbikes, were at Waverley Station. They were asking for donations and spoke to the public about becoming a volunteer.
The service depends entirely on donations from the public and corporate bodies. Overheads for running the service 365 days a year are approximately £4,500 per month.
The volunteers must take the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) exam which, despite its name, is a certificate for motorists and motorcycle riders. The test is designed to improve confidence and knowledge on the road.
Gordon said: “I have been riding motorbikes since I was 14 years old. The IAM training helps you drive safely in bad weather and heavy traffic. We’ve to get where we’re going as quickly as we can — but safely.”
