Bikers gearing up for future

Trust Pathology manager Jeff Cottam presented a cheque for £7,000 to North West Blood Bikes Chairman Paul Brooks, a significant donation towards the charity’s bike equipment, maintenance and petrol as well as making sound financial sense for the NHS.

He said: “North West Blood Bike volunteers provide a fantastic service to the hospitals and NHS patients of East Lancashire, no matter what unsociable time we call them or whatever the weather.

“The Trust has benefitted from the bikers' work for several years now and making this donation helps to keep North West Blood Bikes on the road and represents a substantial saving on what it would cost the NHS if we contracted a private transport service to provide the same service.”

To thank North West Blood Bikes, Jeff and his colleagues at the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital welcomed two dozen volunteer bikers for a tour of the hospital’s laboratories, followed by a ‘thank you’ buffet.

“Our thanks to everyone at East Lancashire Hospitals for this very welcome donation and it was great to meet the lab staff and learn so much about what happens to the samples we transport,” North West Blood Bikes chairman Paul Brooks said.