VOLUNTEER motorcyclists are now being used to deliver emergency blood supplies to both the Lister and QE II hospitals. Emergency Rider Volunteers (SERV) will be transporting blood from the National Blood Service in London between 7pm and 6am, 365 nights a

VOLUNTEER motorcyclists are now being used to deliver emergency blood supplies to both the Lister and QE II hospitals.

Emergency Rider Volunteers (SERV) will be transporting blood from the National Blood Service in London between 7pm and 6am, 365 nights a year and was launched today at Lister Hospital.

The East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust uses between 800 and 1,200 bags of blood a month and receives daily delivery from the National Blood Service.

Karen Wheatland, blood transfusion manager at the Trust, said: "The Trust is very lucky to have the opportunity to access the valuable service SERV provides. The transportation of blood products is a vital role in patients' clinical care, particularly in emergency situations.

"SERV riders provide an efficient link between the hospitals in the Trust and the National Blood Service in Colindale. They are a dedicated and highly professional group of people who have undergone a significant period of training in order to provide this service."

Steve Washington, the SERV secretary and deputy co-ordinator, said: "The service is manned totally by volunteers who freely give their time, bikes, insurance and fuel, selflessly and without any recompense at all.

"In doing so they are saving hospitals thousands of pounds that is being diverted back into providing much-needed services and operations that might not otherwise take place for lack of money.