Steps to ensure blood product

THE Blood Transfusion Unit at the Royal Oldham Hospital has taken precautions to ensure it is business as usual following the recent flight ban.

The hospital feared its supply of reagents, used in blood transfusions, could be hit by the ban as they are ordered in from America.

As a precautionary measure, it has ordered a supply from the National Blood Service based in England.

Reagents are used to test blood being used in transfusions for a range of illnesses, such as hepatitis and HIV, to ensure it is safe to use.

Len Fielding, pathology directorate manager for the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs hospitals in Oldham, Rochdale, North Manchester and Bury, said: “We are expecting a delivery of reagents from America next week and we were concerned about delivery due to the limited number of flights.

“Staff have taken action to identify an alternate source from within this country. Sufficient supplies have been secured and therefore no further problems are anticipated.”