About Us
We provide a a completely free courier service for the NHS, 365 days a year, delivering blood, samples and other medical items. We are entirely reliant on our volunteers and charitable donations, so please click on the “donate” or “volunteer” buttons on this site to support us. Thank you!
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What and Who Are Blood Bikers?
We are a group of volunteers and we either:
Answer calls from the hospitals and dispatch riders or ride motorcycles to collect and deliver urgently needed whole blood, platelets, samples for analysis, medication, patient notes, small medical instruments, donor breast milk, etc., between NHS hospitals without charging the hospitals.
We simply try to make the public aware of what we do, often by giving talks to groups or standing at events or supermarkets. Donations are always welcome, to help us continue doing what we do.
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Why Do We Do It?
To save the NHS Hospitals money, which would normally be used to pay for taxis, leaving that money to be spent on better patient care, or to provide newer, up to date, specialist equipment.
Many of us have either had help from the hospitals, personally or within our own families, or we simply want to help. Riders love motorcycling, even in the depths of winter although there are times when a motorcycle would be dangerous, i.e. Ice and snow, so many riders then use their own cars.
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When Do We Do It?
We operate every single day of the year without a break – including Christmas and New Year’s Day and all Bank Holidays.
On week days our shifts run from 7pm at night to 2am in the morning. On weekends we operate in two shifts covering 7am in the morning to 2am at night.
We also support a Donor Breast Milk service during daytime hours, and collaborate with other Blood Bike groups during the working day for high priority “relay” runs at the request of the NHS.
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How Do We Do It?
Our Controllers work from home using their own landline phone, mobile phone and computer to receive calls from the NHS then dispatch a Rider.
Riders use their own bikes, our fleet of fully marked up “liveried” Blood Bikes, or cars if extreme bad weather renders travel by motorcycle dangerous.
All our Riders undergo assessment rides by professional motorcycle instructors before they can ride for us.
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What is Our Aim?
Our principal aim is to support the NHS and its patients by transporting urgent medical items especially at night, weekends and bank holidays. By doing this we reduce waiting times for critical treatments, and improve patient outcomes especially in emergencies. Because we operate free of charge to the NHS, we directly create savings by replacing paid courier and taxi services, and focusing budgets for patient care.
Meet Our Growing Team
Want to know more about the people behind North West Blood Bikes, meet our dedicated and hard-working team.
290
Riders
27
Controllers
12
Drivers
21
Fundraisers
How Can You Volunteer?
With the ever-increasing need for the NHS to save money, the demands upon the charity grow each year. This growth is limited by our ability to fund and maintain the service and the need for more volunteers. Our volunteers are incredibly committed but there is always more we can do so we are constantly on the lookout for more people to join us. If you can help, please go to the “Contact Us” page on the website.
Riders
Riders are able to use their own bikes or our liveried fleet bikes
All motorcycle riders are welcome to join, with a few requirements. Your bike must be roadworthy, equipped with hard case panniers or a top box, and capable of carrying hospital deliveries—soft panniers or bags aren’t allowed. Riders need at least 12 months of fully licensed experience and must pass an assessment ride.
We support riders in becoming Advanced Riders. If you hold a valid Advanced Rider certificate (completed or renewed within the last 3 years), you may qualify to ride a liveried blood bike after showing dedication to the charity. NWBB L&L transports medical items between hospitals from 7:00 pm to 2:00 am Monday to Friday, and from 7:00 am to 2:00 am at the weekend We ask riders and drivers to make a commitment of two shifts per month (24 shifts per year).
Drivers
We currently have a selection of drivers that will transport items via car
Although primarily a motorcycle service, North West Blood Bikes Lancs & Lakes recruit volunteer car owner/drivers to help out with Regular Runs, in our West Lancashire area only. Here they will transport urgent items between the hospitals. (Ormskirk to Southport at 22:00 and Southport to Whiston at 22:30.)
Volunteers are requested to do two shifts each month. For most of the time these regular runs are carried out by motorcycle volunteers, but there is a need for drivers with cars. This then frees the motorcycles to handle the short-notice and unexpected calls. If you feel you can help out, please complete our driver form from the link below. You must have a full car driving licence with no more than 6 penalty points and the car must be fully insured for carrying items for NWBB Lancs & Lakes and the NHS. Your car must conform to all legalities and be roadworthy.
Controllers
Dispatching/coordinating riders
Controllers manage shifts, take calls, and dispatch riders to fulfill hospital requests across Lancashire and South Cumbria. This role is rewarding, involving problem-solving, coordination, and a bit of humor.
Controllers work from home, answering hospital calls, dispatching riders, and ensuring their safe return. Basic computer skills, familiarity with spreadsheets, stable Wi-Fi, and access to two phones are required. Shifts last 6-8 hours on evenings and weekends, with a minimum commitment of two shifts per month. Training and support are provided. Right now we are very sorry but we are unable to accept any more new applications for Controllers. We will update our site when this changes.
Fundraisers
Organise events, selling merchandise, collecting donations
The role of Fundraiser is invaluable. We are a registered Charity and our sole source of income to run the service we provide comes from donations or fundraising events. You will often see us at supermarkets, at local community shows and at motor themed events like Ormskirk Motorfest. We do not employ professional fundraisers – all of the collections made by our team are from volunteers and all of the money raised goes directly to our charity.
