Blood delivery charity appealing for volunteers

SERV Kent makes about 6,300 journeys every year

A charity which provides an emergency delivery service of bloods to hospitals across Kent is appealing for more volunteers.

Service by Emergency Response Volunteers, known as SERV Kent, or the Bloodrunners, transports blood products, samples and other essential items outside normal working hours.

It also provides and maintains the blood supply for the Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex.

Chris Taylor, one of the Bloodrunners, said: "This gives you a purpose and a reason to ride your bike."

SERV Kent, which has been operating in the county since 1993, has made over 60,470 journeys – currently about 6,300 a year.

It is run entirely through a group of 190 volunteers, many of whom have a personal reason for getting involved.

The charity said the volunteers, who provide their own transport, save the NHS "thousands of pounds" a year.

Without the Bloodrunners, deliveries would have to be made by other means, such as courier or taxi, police or ambulance or by NHS Blood and Transplant.

The Bloodrunners are appealing for more donations, bikers and controllers

Andy Ratcliffe, secretary for SERV Kent, said: "My late brother had benefited from SERV services in London.

"It seemed like the best thing really to give something back and give me a ride with a purpose which is what I've been doing for quite a few years now."

Dr Anthony Hudson, from Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex which relies on SERV Kent blood deliveries, said: "We'll treat anybody that we're dispatched to that's been a victim of an injury, typically that would be road traffic collisions, falls from height and pretty much any injury you can imagine happening we'll be there if needed."

SERV Kent also delivers donated breast milk for premature babies, as well as medicines and other patient essential items to and from hospitals across Kent.

The charity is now appealing for more donations, bikers and controllers.