Charity to continue vital blood delivery service with major donation

Commercial heating and ventilation specialist Lord Combustion Services has funded a new Toyota Yaris for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, so the pre-hospital organisation can continue to receive blood and blood products for its lifesaving service.

Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has been carrying blood on-board its three aircraft and fleet of critical care cars since 2017.

As part of the team’s advanced clinical skillset, the critical care paramedics and doctors are able to administer blood at the scene of an incident to give patients in critical need the very best chance of survival and a good recovery.

Previously volunteers conveyed the blood via Blood Bikes, a not-for-profit service that provides essential transportation to healthcare organisations, such as Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.

This transportation method is no longer available for Strensham airbase, so Lord Combustion Services was keen to step in and support this vital component of the charity’s operations.

The new Toyota Yaris will operate alternate nights, conveying the blood between the Blood Bank at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s Strensham airbase on the Worcestershire / Gloucestershire border.

To ensure there is no wastage, unused blood products will be returned to the Blood Bank well before an expiration date.

Pam Hodgetts, corporate partnerships manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity said “Our clinicians are dealing with some of the most critically unwell patients in the region and if they have suffered significant blood loss, the ability to give blood on scene is essential. 

“The critical care paramedics and doctors could not offer this intervention without the support of the voluntary transport team, who are reliant on having a suitable vehicle to convey the blood and blood products.

“We are truly grateful for the volunteers who run the transport service, and would like to give special thanks to Lord Combustion Services for this incredible level of support, which will ultimately help save lives and keep families together.”

Oldbury-based Lord Combustion Services is a long-term supporter of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity having last year contributed equivalent to the funds for three air ambulance missions and five missions in the pre-hospital service’s three critical cars through donations made at a dinner held to celebrate the company’s 40th anniversary.

Click here to find out more about Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s lifesaving work.