Proud to be playing our part in lifesaving partnership

A partnership involving our blood transfusion laboratory has been launched, which will help the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) to save more lives.

Following a successful fundraising appeal, the air ambulance has started carrying blood on board to help treat critically ill or injured patients who require red cells.

The EAAA helicopter based at Norwich and its rapid response vehicle will carry blood on board following support from the Eastern Pathology Alliance (EPA) lab at NNUH and Norfolk Blood Bikes.

The blood transfusion laboratory at NNUH will issue the emergency blood once every 24 hours in specially designed and insulated transport boxes, which will be collected and transported to the air base by the volunteer riders of the Norfolk Blood Bikes charity. If the blood is not used within a 24 hour period it can be returned to the hospital by the blood bikers and after rigorous safety checks and temperature checks, it can be returned into the hospital stock for use by patients.

Carol Harvey, EPA Network Blood Transfusion Manager, said: “I am really pleased that we are doing this and we are delighted that the team can play such a vital role in helping to save patient lives. There has been a lot of work and paper work that has gone into getting this off the ground, but it is all worthwhile to help save lives. I want to thank the teams at EAAA and NBB for their dedication to ensuring this project is able to take place.”