About us
The Herts and Beds SERV group of Blood Runners, was formed 2009. We are part of a nationwide voluntary organisation that provides a free out of hours delivery service for blood products and patient samples, as well as Human Donor Milk, medical equipment and drugs.
We provide a service to the main hospitals in our region, as well as Hospices and Milk Banks.
History of SERV
SERV stands for Service by Emergency Response Volunteers. It was founded in 1981 and has saved NHS Hospitals thousands of pounds which has enabled hospitals to divert funds where they are needed most. Originally the naming was 'Rider' volunteers, but in recent years we are very much using both cars and motorcycles for our services, in the most part that is the bikes and cars owned by, fuelled by and insured by our volunteers.
There are a number of similar groups operating countrywide.
Each group performs a similar service, using motorcycles or cars to provide an out-of-hours 'medical essentials' service to hospitals and other health institutions within their area. The charities carry urgently needed medical items such as blood, biological samples, medical notes, x-rays and scans. The service is offered free of charge to the NHS and all members are unpaid volunteers.
Blood Products
We provide a totally free out-of-hours voluntary service for NHS hospitals in the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire area. We are on call every day of the year, 24 hours a day, and througout all public holidays.
Frozen Breast Milk
Premature babies can need breast milk when they are born as they may be unable to digest anything else. Mothers with premature babies or who have undergone medical treatment often are not able to express their milk.
Donors express and freeze milk and our riders collect the frozen milk and deliver it to the Milk Bank where it is processed and held in storage and eventually supplied to Neonatal Units as required.
Hospice Support
Hospice provides palliative care to patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We provide an as-required collection and delivery services between the hospice and local hospitals transporting drugs, blood transfusions, medical equipment, patient notes and medical samples.
There is no better way to understand why we do this, than to hear from our current members and volunteers, and read their own personal reasons:
The main reason for me doing the volunteering is that I know the NHS is in trouble. But I feel strongly that nothing will change by just criticizing, moaning or blaming politicians about it. Volunteering is one thing which is easy for me to do to be part of the solution and contributing constructively to improve something. One other thing is that I feel very fortunate what I could achieve in my live and I am very grateful for where I am with my life. Again, volunteering is something helping me to pay back. Arnold – SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbike Volunteer
The NHS is on of The UK’s greatest institutions and assets – they are always there for us, Happy to volunteer and give back in a practical and supportive role . Mark – SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbike Volunteer
Our milk donor Mums are lovely people. Always a pleasure to meet them. Delivering donor milk to the hospital maternity units is a genuinely heartwarming experience. Peter – SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbike Volunteer
I volunteer for SERV because it allows me to help my community whilst also allowing me to pursue my passion which is motorbike riding. I can’t decide what I like more: the night shifts when I get called out at say 2 a.m. to ride into London and collect blood for somebody in the operating theatre or taking a sample from a cancer Patient at a hospice to a hospital for testing. The feeling of being useful and providing this service to help our overstretched NHS is like no other and I thoroughly enjoy every ride I get to complete. I’m very lucky to be a blood biker. Maria – SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbike Volunteer
my son-in-law needed a major operation to save his life, after receiving 24 units of blood and some amazing work by the operating team he is now leading a fairly normal life, I felt that I had to give something back to the N.H.S. and all the anonymous people that donated the lifesaving blood and also possibly some wonderful people who unselfishly offer their time and at their expense the cost of providing this valuable service, what better way of showing my thanks than to give up my time to help provide the same service that probably will make a life changing gift to help someone else's treatment. Trevor – SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbike Volunteer
I'm retired so I have the luxury of time on my hands, I get to spend some of that time doing things I love doing. In addition, I'm meeting great people and, as it turns out, we get to do something truly worthwhile. What's not to like? Paul – SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbike Volunteer
My wife passed away just over 2 years ago, she received lots of treatment and help from many staff in the NHS, in a difficult battle against cancer. I felt I just wanted to repay there efforts in some way, especially the kindness she was shown from staff members , which I will always remember. Glen – SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbike Volunteer
My Wife has been an NHS nurse all her life and I know the care and dedication that she has. The NHS has treated members of my family and myself and I wanted to be able to give something back to help and what better way than helping, doing something I love ,riding my Motorbike. John A – SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbike Volunteer
Important to me to do positive things for people and society and both giving and now being able to deliver blood and other things for those in need however far removed is both rewarding and I hope making a positive difference. David C – SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbike Volunteer
It’s what we do, in order to give something back & by way of saying "Thank You: to the NHS. Fred – SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbike Volunteer
Volunteering for SERV allows my passion for riding motorcycles and doing good for the community to come together, there's no better reward than a smiling NICU nurse saying "the milkman has arrived" and seeing all those mums and their tiny babies who we're helping Bruno - SERV Herts and Beds Volunteer
To help people in our society, who are unable to help themselves. John B – SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbike Volunteer
I volunteer with SERV because I want to give something back to the community as members of my family have benefited from the services that we provide. Howard – SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbike Volunteer
Previously I have worked with various charities and acted as a school governor. In each case I quickly found myself bogged down in endless meetings which seemed to have little connection to the people I was trying to help. So, I decided that my next role would be a straightforward one, free from the politics and wasted energy that I’d found so dispiriting. Blood running has provided exactly what I was looking for - I deliver blood, blood products, medical samples and also milk for neonatal units. In each case, what I do has a direct relationship with, and consequence for, people in urgent need of the products which are so vital to their medical care. Simultaneously this service saves the NHS from having to rely on commercial transport providers with their attendant costs. Therefore, every delivery comes with a great feeling of satisfaction and time well spent Nick R - SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbike Volunteer
I’m not clever enough or driven enough to work in medicine or the NHS, but I have spare time and I want to make use of it for the benefit of someone other than myself. It gives me enormous pleasure and pride to know that giving up some of that time helps others, could help save lives, but definitely saves money for the massively over-stretched and under-funded NHS. Peter S – SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbike Volunteer
After seeing an advert on C4 for Honda motorcycles, many years ago, that featured a blood biker, it seemed to spark something in me. Combining my love of riding and being part of an organisation where everyone has one common goal, to help others. Paul – SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbike Volunteer
It is a privilege to be part of SERV and be able to make a contribution towards making our community and Country such a great place to live. Andrew B - SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbikes
I am a blood biker because 1) biking is my hobby 2) It feels good to give something back 3) I feel part of a great team and meet amazing people 4) Just getting a thankyou from members of the public means a lot to me 5) Maybe one day 'I'll need me'! - Peter SERV Herts and Beds Bloodbiker
We couldn’t do what we do without the generosity of SERV Herts & Beds ‘Blood Bikers’ – an entirely volunteer led organisation that supports the delivery of emergency blood, plasma, tissue samples and donor milk using its fleet of motorcycles and vehicles. Their dedicated volunteers provide a rapid response which enables donor milk to be transported to hospital neonatal intensive care units where it helps vulnerable premature babies. The Blood Bikers also collect donor milk from our milk donors at home and transport it to the milk bank for pasteurisation and testing, and deliver pasteurised, frozen donor milk to recipient families in the community. - Hearts Milk Bank