Volunteer 'blood bikers' complete 30,000 deliveries for NHS

Volunteer "blood bikers" have completed their 30,000th delivery of life saving donations for the NHS.

The Warwickshire and Solihull Blood Bikes charity has been transporting NHS blood samples and medical supplies to hospitals and communities across the West Midlands in need for 10 years.

The landmark donation was made by driver Jack Hickie, who thanked donors for their support over the last decade.

Drivers work 24/7 to make the deliveries across the West Midlands.

A spokesman from the group said: "Every job we complete helps the NHS deliver the best possible care to local communities, and with us on track to complete 5,000 jobs this year, more people than ever will benefit from our service.

"Thank you to everyone for your continued support on to 40,000."

In recent weeks, the group has made deliveries as far north as Liverpool to delivering medication from Warwick Hospital across the SWFT network, the team was nonstop.

In total, the group said they completed 65 jobs free for the NHS.

Officials have previously warned the NHS needs one million regular blood donors to maintain its blood supply.

Low blood stocks prompted officials to issue an "amber alert" over supply for hospitals in 2024 and NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said that more must be done to avoid a "red alert", which means that blood supply is so low that there is a threat to public safety.

Officials described 2024 as "challenging" for blood stocks, highlighting how just two per cent of the population keep the nation’s blood stocks afloat.

This means just under 800,000 people sustained the whole of England’s blood supply over the past 12 months and NHSBT said one million donors are needed to meet demand.

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NHS officials said there is a "critical" need for more donors who have the so-called universal blood type, O negative blood, which is needed for treatment in emergencies.

There is also a need for more black donors, who are more likely to have specific blood types which can help treat people with sickle cell disease.

NHSBT chief executive Dr Jo Farrar said: “There are many thousands of people who donate regularly and help us keep patients alive.

"Thank you. You are amazing. You keep the NHS going and save and transform thousands of lives a year."