South West Blood Bikes, the volunteer-led charity that provides urgent medical courier services across Devon has been given a new permanent base at the Becton Dickinson (BD) manufacturing plant in Roborough, Plymouth.
The new facility will securely house the charity’s fleet of emergency motorcycles and cars when they are not in use. Becton Dickinson (BD) is covering all utility and security costs, allowing the charity to focus entirely on its life-saving work.
Supporting Faster, Free Medical Deliveries
South West Blood Bikes helps local hospitals by transporting urgent medical supplies such as:
- Blood and blood products
- Pathology samples
- Medication
- Donor breast milk
- All deliveries are made free of charge, reducing pressure on NHS budgets and speeding up care for patients.
To date, the charity has already completed more than 14,000 jobs, moving almost 83,500 consignments and saving the NHS and local hospices over £700,000 in transport costs.
The new base will allow faster dispatch, wider coverage across South Devon, and less reliance on paid courier services.
Strengthening Community Healthcare
The facility is located at the entrance to BD’s Plymouth manufacturing campus. Alongside the new storage and operations hub, BD is also offering:
- Financial support
- Awareness and fundraising activity
- Volunteer opportunities for BD staff
This partnership highlights how local industry can play a direct role in supporting frontline healthcare in the community.
“A Meaningful Contribution to Our Work”
South West Blood Bikes trustee chairman Steve Dower said:
“South West Blood Bikes is proud to have established a strong and valued relationship with Becton Dickinson.
“As a charity delivering a free, primarily out-of-hours courier service for vital medical supplies across Devon, we recognise a clear alignment with Becton Dickinson…”
“SWBB operations are delivered entirely by unpaid volunteers, ensuring that the NHS and local hospices across Devon receive our support at no cost.
We are sustained through grant funding and the incredible generosity of individuals and businesses across the region.
“The provision of a purpose-built facility to support our Plymouth based operations represents an incredibly significant and meaningful contribution from Becton Dickinson.
This support will directly enhance our ability to serve the people of Devon and further our charitable aims.”
