HERTS & BEDS BlOOD BIKES

Back in 1968, I was a volunteer for the Voluntary Emergency Service (VES), which was mainly recruited from Members of the 59 Club. I transported blood from Edgware Hospital down to Colindale Hospital and Paddington Hospital, which I did until 1970. 

In 2024, I joined SERV Herts & Beds Blood Bikes after completing my Advanced test with IAM in 2022. SERV Herts & Beds now covers a much larger area, but is still starting from the new Blood Bank in Colindale.

Well, that didn't last long. After being accepted and completing the route training, you are required to take a specific route, even with modern tracking and What3Words.

While an active member, I had been assigned to do just three jobs. It was then deemed that my bike was underpowered to carry the blood boxes. This came about after completing one run from Colindale to Lister with radiated blood for a child's operation, followed by two more runs with samples. I was offered to continue using the Herts & Beds SERV cars, but as I told the chairman, I joined to ride my bike, not sit in traffic jams.

Soon after joining, I  arranged a visit to the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance at North Weald Airfield. This only came about because some didn't believe the cost the Air Ambulance is charged for a unit of blood by the NHS Blood bank, and thought I was exaggerating the cost.

It was a good turnout, and the two duty Doctors gave us that little extra talk on the workings and how they go about deciding to give a blood transfusion. The facts were amazing. The cost per unit is £320 if used; most get returned to the blood bank by SERV bikers.

Now I do know the answer, but how many units of blood does the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance carry in the Red bag?  

Regarding my bike being undersized, not all SERV groups apply this, only Herts & Beds.