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ChrisCurvyS · 09-10-12, 09:54 AM

I work for the NBS (now NHS Blood and Transplant) and I can tell you with absolute certainty that we do run a 24/7 delivery service with cars and vans (no bikes) - it doesn't have to be an emergency for us to deliver out-of-hours either.

The difference is, we make a small charge to cover our costs for the out-of-hours deliveries whereas the blood bikes don't as they're funded by members/donations, so that's why cash-strapped hospitals are increasingly using them.

It's a bit of a touchy one politically - obviously the SERV riders want to do a good thing and put in a lot of commitment, but it does make our drivers fear for their jobs and I think the unions see it as a potential slippery slope to volunteers replacing other NHS professions.

I can appreciate both sides myself and I did start signing up for NW Blood Bikes before I joined NHSBT and realised there's more to the issue than I first realised. It's a depressing thought but I suppose it's a good idea to make sure your job isn't fun/rewarding/exciting enough that people will do it for free.

09-10-12, 09:54 AM	#10
ChrisCurvyS Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Cheshire Posts: 562	Re: Just signed up with S.E.R.V I work for the NBS (now NHS Blood and Transplant) and I can tell you with absolute certainty that we do run a 24/7 delivery service with cars and vans (no bikes) - it doesn't have to be an emergency for us to deliver out-of-hours either. The difference is, we make a small charge to cover our costs for the out-of-hours deliveries whereas the blood bikes don't as they're funded by members/donations, so that's why cash-strapped hospitals are increasingly using them. It's a bit of a touchy one politically - obviously the SERV riders want to do a good thing and put in a lot of commitment, but it does make our drivers fear for their jobs and I think the unions see it as a potential slippery slope to volunteers replacing other NHS professions. I can appreciate both sides myself and I did start signing up for NW Blood Bikes before I joined NHSBT and realised there's more to the issue than I first realised. It's a depressing thought but I suppose it's a good idea to make sure your job isn't fun/rewarding/exciting enough that people will do it for free.