Bikers needed for hospital blood deliveries

A charity which helps deliver blood and urgent medical supplies to hospitals needs more volunteers, it says.

The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes last year responded to 39,000 requests for help from the NHS.

Volunteers work at night and at weekends delivering blood, samples, medical notes, donor breast milk or medical equipment between hospitals.

Northumbria branch chairman Peter Robertson said the service was "invaluable".

"We're making a difference to the lives of local people as well as saving the NHS money," he said.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said the service was "of great benefit", especially in serious cases when "time really is of the essence".

The organisation was "finding it harder than anything else" to fill positions for volunteers to take calls from hospitals and then dispatch riders, Mr Robertson added.

Few people know the charity exists, which limits donations and new recruits, the organisation said.