A blood bike is a specialist motorcycle modified for use as a courier vehicle for the prompt transportation of urgent and emergency medical items; primarily including blood, and also including X-rays, tissue samples, surgical tools, human milk, spinal fluids, drugs, and documentation; between hospitals and other healthcare facilities.[1][2][3]
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, a network of largely independent registered charities, whose members are all unpaid volunteers, provide blood bike courier services in collaboration with their local healthcare authorities. Many are represented through the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes (NABB), itself a registered charity (number 1198195).[4][5][6] NABB requires that its members hold advanced rider qualifications.[2][6]
Commercially-run blood bike courier services also exist.[7]
- ^ "Top award for volunteer couriers". News.BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 2 June 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Blood bikers: The volunteer motorcyclists who help the NHS". BBC.co.uk. BBC News. 18 December 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ Axling, Ada (2 August 2017). "LV partners with Adrian Flux on blood bikes scheme - Insurance Age". InsuranceAge.co.uk. Infopro Digital Insurance Information Limited. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ "Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes". BloodBikes.org.uk. The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes. n.d. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ "Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes". register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Charity Commission for England and Wales. n.d. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ a b Millard, Lucy (23 September 2017). "Riders deliver vital supplies". NewarkAdvertiser.co.uk. Newark Advertiser. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
- ^ Butler, Sarah; Goodley, Simon (7 March 2017). "Medical couriers launch case challenging self-employed status". TheGuardian.com. The Guardian, Guardian News and Media Limited. Archived from the original on 7 March 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2023.