The volunteer riders, drivers and dispatchers of Blood Bike West are expanding their hours to a run 24-hour service this Christmas.
From December 20 to January 4, six distinctive motor bikes and a donated van will be rushing blood samples, breast milk, scans and other urgent packages between hospitals, healthcare settings and labs across the west and northwest of Ireland.
The year-round service, which usually operates outside office hours and on weekends only, functions at no cost to the patient, and is funded entirely through donations, and goodwill from the public.
“If you see one of our bikes, or our Northgate-sponsored Blood Bike West van around, and wonder what these machines marked ‘Blood’ are used for, then check out our website and social media by searching for ‘Blood Bike West’,” says chairman David Dwyer.
Bloodbike West is made up of almost 60 volunteers, and coordinates with other volunteer services around the country to pass urgent clinical deliveries nationwide. Nationally, the bloodbike network responds to around 6,000 calls each year, linking in with hospitals, medical centres, nursing homes and families with specific healthcare needs.
In October, Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, and Minister of State with responsibility for roads, Seán Canney, granted approval in principle for bloodbikes to use bus lanes for medical transfers.
The Department of Transport, Road Safety Authority, An Garda Síochána, National Transport Authority, and Dublin Bus are currently working on the proposal, which will require legislative amendment to Road Traffic Regulations.
Bloodbike West is currently recruiting new riders and drivers, with all enquiries to [email protected].
