Interserve’s Andy Nash volunteers as a blood biker to help ferry vital medical supplies to the NHS and has urged others to support the third sector.
The facilities management (FM) manager’s day job involves running a team of 18 colleagues who deliver total FM services to the Home Office, Civil Service and border control services.
But in his spare time Andy dons the hi-viz uniform of Yeovil Freewheelers (YFW) Blood Bikes, a team of 70 emergency medical motorcycle couriers that provide a free service to the NHS. He spends roughly a day per fortnight on call and has covered up to 800 miles during a weekend shift. Jobs range from carrying blood plasma through to medical equipment, samples and supplies.
The bikers have been requested to ramp up COVID-19 test kit deliveries, which involves taking test kits from medical centres to labs. The sample runs are from Yeovil District Hospital to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, at 10pm, 12pm, 3am and 6am throughout the week – part of the Government’s commitment for 100,000 tests to be completed per day by the end of this month.
Two-weeks-ago the Government launched the Good Samaritan App to attract volunteers to support the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andy said: “I love being a blood biker, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.
“I strongly urge others to get involved in volunteering – especially at this time – because it’s wonderful to really make a difference.
“Being thanked by relatives is humbling, and I’ve also been told by hospitals that I’ve directly saved two lives which is an incredible feeling.”
Andy pledged to volunteer after he was diagnosed with cancer of the appendix in 2011 and medical support was delivered by one of the YFW Blood Bikes team. He said: “After I completed treatment for cancer and passed my motorbike test, I was desperate to give something back.
“I was always interested in bikes, first aid and medical services, so combining those interests was a logical step – especially because of the help I’d received.”
To learn more about the Good Samaritan App please visit https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHS and to learn more about the YFB Blood Bike group and to see how to donate to keep them on the road, please visit: https://www.yfwbloodbikes.org/
The facilities management (FM) manager’s day job involves running a team of 18 colleagues who deliver total FM services to the Home Office, Civil Service and border control services.
But in his spare time Andy dons the hi-viz uniform of Yeovil Freewheelers (YFW) Blood Bikes, a team of 70 emergency medical motorcycle couriers that provide a free service to the NHS. He spends roughly a day per fortnight on call and has covered up to 800 miles during a weekend shift. Jobs range from carrying blood plasma through to medical equipment, samples and supplies.
The bikers have been requested to ramp up COVID-19 test kit deliveries, which involves taking test kits from medical centres to labs. The sample runs are from Yeovil District Hospital to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, at 10pm, 12pm, 3am and 6am throughout the week – part of the Government’s commitment for 100,000 tests to be completed per day by the end of this month.
Two-weeks-ago the Government launched the Good Samaritan App to attract volunteers to support the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andy said: “I love being a blood biker, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.
“I strongly urge others to get involved in volunteering – especially at this time – because it’s wonderful to really make a difference.
“Being thanked by relatives is humbling, and I’ve also been told by hospitals that I’ve directly saved two lives which is an incredible feeling.”
Andy pledged to volunteer after he was diagnosed with cancer of the appendix in 2011 and medical support was delivered by one of the YFW Blood Bikes team. He said: “After I completed treatment for cancer and passed my motorbike test, I was desperate to give something back.
“I was always interested in bikes, first aid and medical services, so combining those interests was a logical step – especially because of the help I’d received.”
To learn more about the Good Samaritan App please visit https://www.goodsamapp.org/NHS and to learn more about the YFB Blood Bike group and to see how to donate to keep them on the road, please visit: https://www.yfwbloodbikes.org/