Blood Runners

?Had a chat with a member of SERV, they volunteer to
be on call 2 or 3 times a month to bike Blood, organs, tissue etc
to hospitals or pass on cross boarder to other members.
Night only as hospitals usually have to pay for couriers at night.
Was thinking of joining to "do my bit"

Anyone else had any experience?
www.serv.org.uk

 

I was mildly interested until I got to this bit ...

"If you are a qualified Advanced Rider/Driver, or you are willing to
undertake
advanced training with the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) or
RoSPA
Advanced Drivers and Riders then we need you."

 

So was I. Otherwise, politely, screw 'em.

Used to carry blood from Charing Cross Hospital to the Royal Marsden,
when I was a DR, 30 years ago. A regular delivery. We called it the
Vampire Run. Thank God nobody crashed and burst the pouches.....

 

If one is critical on the slab with the pathologist already sniffing around
the very last thing I want is a IAM **** delivering the needful. They might
as well be delivering a condolance card. I'll have someone wearing a rather
grubby Addison Lee jacket please.

 

?>"SaladDodger" wrote in message

All I get in the Hampshire link is this
"To ride for SERV you need to have a full motorcycle licence (Category A),
and two years riding experience.
The hospitals we work with require assurance that our riders are competent.
As a result all members must undertake a check ride with Kickstart Rider
Training. This is nothing to worry about, the instructor is simply looking
for you to demonstrate a safe ride.
If you hold an advanced riding qualification (IAM or RoSPA) then you do not
have to undertake a check ride. "

 

Catman IIRC.

 

You don't *need* to have that. See my reply to Vass

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#www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

In Essex, yes.

Couple of things

1) It's not emergency bloody supplies, it's needed bloody and blood
products, and (IME very rarely) pathological samples.

2) You need (at least for Essex) no special driving qualifications.

3) Yes it makes you feel like you're helping, and I'd not seek to
dissuade anyone from joining up.

I recently left after several (I forget how many) years. Mostly because
it was something of a shambles in terms of organisation.

When they tried (bless) to correct this, the new secretary would send
out emails in text speak, which I just found hugely annoying.

But then they started changing the 'rules' as to when you'd be on duty,
how often you would be called, the hours and so on. No doubt they had
the best goals in mind, but apart from my objection to being told what
and when I would be available, and how and who would decide my
availability, by someone that seemed to have only the barest mastery of
English, email, or Excel (the medium by which they arranged the rotas),
it just became un-sustainable with my new job in this London.

So I figured that I'd done my bit, and left.

Other down sides: The staff at the hospitals / blood bank (again this is
ME, and Essex only) treat you like shit, although you get a very
interesting view on what passes as hospital 'security'.

As for using a bike, I realised pretty early that the system seemed to
have no idea what you would actually be carrying. The standard box is
like a large, insulated pizza box. No way would it fit in any of my
panniers, and I really didn't fancy a bungy job. On several occasions I
have been called to collect '1' box, decided to take the car, and found,
on arrival, that I was expected to take 3. I think that would make me
look like a refugee from the Saigon rush hour.

Other times when asked to take a box, I ended up with a sample box that
would have fitted in my pocket.

On balance, I'm glad I did it, and really *really* wouldn't want to put
anyone off as I think it's a valuable service, but Essex, at least IME
makes it rather more onerous than it needs to be.


--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 GTV TS GT 3.2 V6
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
#www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

?>"Catman" wrote in message

Interesting, ta

 

No problem. Shame I trashed all the secretary's emails. They were truly
awful.

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 GTV TS GT 3.2 V6
Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see.
#www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk