brief introduction
Norfolk is the 6th largest county in the UK, has a population of over 916 000 people and yet has no motorways. It has 3 Primary Hospitals; The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kings Lynn, The Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital and the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston on Sea. In addition there a several 'satellite' locations that operate under the same NHS Trusts.
These hospitals all form part of the Eastern Pathology Alliance (EPA). The EPA is a managed pathology network providing Clinical Biochemistry, Immunology, Haematology, Blood Transfusion, Andrology and Microbiology services to primary and secondary care providers across Norfolk and Waveney, created in 2014 and was one of the first pathology networks in the UK.
Norfolk Blood Bikes operates within formal Service Level Agreements with the EPA hospitals.
It’s primary purpose is to transport urgent or emergency blood & blood products, between NHSBT and other EPA designated sites as part of the Alliance’s Blood Transfusion Service.
Norfolk Blood Bikes is registered with the UK Charity Commission and was formed, in 2011, to fulfil the need of an ‘out of hours’ transport service for blood, samples and any other items that need to be carried between these locations.
We operate every night 7pm to 7am and 9am to 5pm every weekend and Bank Holiday including the Festive Period (Christmas and Boxing Day) and New Year’s Day.
We currently work between the Primary Hospitals, 5 Community Hospitals and a supporting Laboratory, transporting any items used for the medical or surgical treatment of patients. This is all done at no cost to the National Health Service.
In addition we collect blood and blood products from Addenbrookes Hospital, in Cambridge, as this is the regional supply centre East Anglia.
We are just one of many Charitable Associations that provide a similar service around the United Kingdom and we are governed and overseen by the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes (NABB) who share our mission to provide reliable, free and high quality provision to NHS trusts throughout the UK.
Run entirely by local volunteers, Norfolk Blood Bikes has around 90 active members spread across the county.
These members are the 'lifeblood' of the Charity acting as Fund Raisers, running the Committee, or riding and driving they all work as a team to provide a professional urgent transport service for the NHS
To help us transport blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast milk and any other urgently required medical items to hospitals in Norfolk as well as to the East Anglian Air Ambulance we operate a fully livered fleet of 11 motorcycles and 4 cars.
None of the members take any remuneration for their time and all the running costs are paid for by donations from the public.
It costs around £5000 per month to maintain this essential service.
Please use the quick links below or the menu above to find out more details about us.