Life-saving blood transfusions to be flown to Greater Manchester's roadsides

Roadside and in-the-field blood transfusions can now be delivered to some of the North West's sickest patients for the first time.

Specialist care teams aboard the North West Air Ambulance Charity are introducing blood on board to its helicopters to help increase patient survival rates.

They've undergone specialist training with A+E staff at Salford Royal to help bring the skills and life-saving procedures of an emergency department to the scene of injuries.

With more than 2,000 missions carried out every year it's estimated two to three urgent transfusions will be needed each week,

Packed red blood cells and pre-thawed plasma will be supplied by Salford Royal and delivered by Blood Bikes Manchester in temperature-controlled boxes to the Air Ambulance base at Barton.

Any blood not used that day by the air ambulance will be safely returned by Blood Bikes riders for use in the hospital, to ensure precious donations do not go to waste.

It's part of a collaboration with Blood Bikes Manchester, North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust Transfusion Service (SRFT).

Celebrating the medical collaboration of three local services, Clint Jones, Consultant Anaesthetist at the North West Air Ambulance Charity, commented: “This is the first time the entire North West will have access to this life-saving in-the-field medical procedure. It is a proud moment for our charity."

“Our priority is to deliver emergency care from the air, bringing pre-hospital interventions to seriously ill and injured people no matter their location. Our crew are often called to treat patients suffering from major blood loss or internal bleeding, so the need for this on-the-scene intervention was clear; being able to administer blood there and then will give people precious time in the race to safely treat and transport them to hospital.”

Steve Deakin, Duty Manager at Blood Bikes Manchester, says the initiative is vital in providing the best patient care.

"Our team of volunteers understand just how important it is to get blood to patients quickly; traditionally, we’ve focused on the swift transport of donations and samples to hospital, and it is an honour to now be working to bring blood and plasma to patients wherever they may need it.”

Deborah Seddon, Haematology and Blood Transfusion Service Manager at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Blood loss is a major factor in the survival of trauma patients, and anything that can be done to combat its detrimental effect could undoubtedly save lives.”