Page 6 - Clinical Connections - Autumn 2024

RVC RESEARCH STUDY VETERINARY SERVICES RVC.AC.UK
Transfusion medicine
NEW HOME FOR THE BLOOD DONOR

PROGRAMME

Charlotte Russo, Head Transfusion Medicine RVN

he RVC Blood Donor Programme, This is a practice well established with The new facility is just outside the
which was based within the Queen dogs and one we successfully extended to QMHA, creating a tranquil and less bustling
T Mother Hospital for Animals (QMHA), cats in 2013. environment than within the hospital. Our
has grown significantly since being intention was to provide a space where
established, 20 years ago. This expansion donors won't perceive it as a clinical setting,
has included a significant increase in the fostering a more relaxed atmosphere.
number of donations and transfusions being Alongside the dedicated feline and canine
performed and also an expansion of the blood donation rooms, the new facility
dedicated team. incorporates office space for the team and
Consequently, the success and growth a laboratory for the processing of donated
of the Blood Donor Programme has meant blood.
that it has surpassed the capacity of the The onsite laboratory enables the team to
hospital space, necessitating the need for a process blood into a diverse array of blood
new, purpose-built facility. products, catering to patients of various
Donated blood is often split into red blood sizes with different conditions that demand
cells (for anaemic patients) and plasma specific products.
(used for dogs and cats with low levels The new facility has been part funded by
of clotting factors). Plasma is also often the ACT, the RVC’s registered charity.
useful in critically ill patients to support their
circulatory system. In addition, our blood Our first feline donor in the new facility was
Lilah, who was also our Feline Blood Donor of
donor nurses also make special products to the Year this year
help patients with inherited diseases where Veterinary Nurses Advance with Certificate
they lack specific clotting factors, such as in Transfusion Medicine Nursing
haemophilia.
The products that the Blood Donor Charlotte Russo and Samantha Barber
Programme produces enables the clinical have successfully completed their
teams at RVC Small Animal Referrals to ISVPS Nurse Certificate (NCert) in
help hundreds of animals every year. The Transfusion Medicine Nursing, marking
blood products are collected, prepared and a significant achievement in their
delivered to patients via the Transfusion professional development.
Medicine Service (TMS). The course, accredited by the
International School of Veterinary
Prioritising welfare and comfort Postgraduate Studies (ISVPS), equips
The foremost priority of the Blood Donor veterinary nurses with specialised
Programme is the welfare and wellbeing knowledge in transfusion medicine,
of our invaluable blood donors. We aim to, enhancing patient care and donor
whenever possible, conduct blood donations welfare.
without the need for sedation. Building on their success, the team is
excited to announce that Milly Jones,
a new member of the Transfusion
Achieving non-sedated donations from Medicine Service, has also enrolled in
feline donors, which is dependent on the course.
them having a suitable temperament, These accomplishments reflect the
necessitates an environment purposefully team’s commitment to continuous
designed to facilitate this approach. education and high quality care, further
The requirement for the new facility, strengthening the service they provide
therefore, was not only driven by the to patients and donors.
expansion of our team but also by the value
of an optimal setting that maintains the
welfare and comfort of donors. This includes
dedicated donation rooms catering to the
Our first canine donor in the new facility was needs of cats and a separate donation room
Shadow, who did his 18th donation for dogs.

6 Autumn 2024