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Blood: Transport

Asked by Mr Andrew SnowdenConservativeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 8 July 2025UIN 62370

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to provide financial support to voluntary blood bike charities undertaking urgent medical transport services for the NHS.

Answered by Ashley Dalton

Currently, there are no plans at a national level to provide financial support to voluntary blood bike charities undertaking urgent medical transport services, and NHS Blood and Transplant does not use the service of blood bikes.

Decisions to commission support for local services are taken at an integrated care board and trust level. Hospitals can, on occasion, choose to arrange their own transport for blood using contractors, couriers, or charity volunteers, such as the blood bikes, which currently deliver 2% of the blood products used by hospitals across England.

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