The North West Air Ambulance Charity (NWAA) has announced it is expanding its lifesaving services. The charity is introducing blood on board all its vehicles, as well as expanding its night car service from two nights per week to seven nights, due to ongoing demand. The introduction of blood on all platforms ensures that all vehicles are equipped with blood supplies, allowing critical blood transfusions to be administered at the scene of emergencies.
By providing blood directly to patients before or during transport to hospitals, NWAA can significantly increase survival chances for trauma victims experiencing severe blood loss.
Andy Curran, Medical Director at NWAA said: “This advancement will make a big difference. It means we’re now able to give blood to patients at the roadside, in their gardens, in car parks… Essentially, wherever it’s needed.
“Whether we arrive by helicopter or car, our teams will be able to give this lifesaving treatment as early as possible, and ultimately, save more lives. We wouldn’t be able to provide this enhancement without our strong supporter base, as a charity we receive no government funding and need £18m each year to continue saving lives.”
The expansion of the charity’s night car service will enable its critical care paramedics and doctors to give critical care coverage from 6pm to 2am, providing emergency interventions for patients in need, 365 days a year.
Andy continued: “We anticipate that our crew will help an additional 1,000 patients per year, due to the expansion of the vital night car service. We want to make sure that people get enhanced pre-hospital care to improve their chances of survival.”
The blood on board enhancement aligns with the charity’s mission to deliver advanced medical interventions quickly, helping more critically ill or injured patients across the region, with approximately 75 patients expected to benefit from the extended blood service in the first 12 months.
The charity is able to provide blood on board its helicopters and cars with the support of Salford Royal (part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust), Greater Manchester Blood Bikes and North West Blood Bikes.
A spokesperson from the Greater Manchester Blood Bikes and North West Blood Bikes said: “Manchester Blood Bikes and North West Blood Bikes Lancashire and Lakes are both proud to support the NWAA in their lifesaving missions, by ensuring blood supplies are readily available for all their helicopters and cars.
“By delivering vital blood products to their fleet, we are helping to make emergency blood transfusions possible at the scene, giving patients a greater chance of survival. It’s an honour to be part of such a crucial partnership that directly impacts lives across the region.”
Scott Beattie, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Salford Royal said: “The ability to provide blood transfusions at the earliest opportunity, for example at the roadside, is truly lifesaving and our blood transfusion service is thrilled to play such a key role in the chain of survival with North West Air Ambulance Charity.”
With a national shortage of universal O-negative blood at the moment, the charity is calling on members of the public to support their local blood banks. Without the donation of blood, the charity wouldn’t be able to operate its blood on board service to the patients who need it most across the North West.
For more information about the charity and to see how you can support it, visit this link.