A new dedicated blood transfusion unit has opened at The Meadows haematology and oncology day unit at Eccleshill Community Hospital in Bradford.
Run by Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the five-day service is a home-grown initiative in response to patient feedback.
Consultant Haematologist Dr Clare Samuelson said: ‘’Patients with inherited red blood cell disorders such as thalassaemia need a dedicated transfusion unit, with specialist staff and a suitable environment. Living with such lifelong conditions can be very difficult for patients, and I welcome the opening of this excellent new unit to meet their transfusion needs.
“The new service is now in a separate, bigger space and reflects that the Haematology team wants to improve the experience of patients who require regular transfusions.
“Some patients can be in the unit for a while – blood transfusions can take up to six hours or longer to complete – but we have comfy reclining chairs and provide food and drinks for everyone. Being based at The Meadows will also mean that patients can be seen by our specialist nursing team and haemoglobinopathy counsellor when coming for transfusions, who are also based there.”
The transfusion unit has never had a permanent home, having been moved from BRI to the Yorkshire Clinic and back again during COVID, so the new unit at The Meadows is a big step forward for patients and staff.
Haematology colleagues Sumerah Mobeen and Stacey Doherty, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Sobia Khan, a Haemoglobinopathy Counsellor, have been closely involved with the development of the new unit and engaging with patients to find out what they want most from the space.
“We’re so pleased to finally have a dedicated space for our patients which is a nicer environment, more relaxed and has games and activity boxes to keep people occupied while they have their transfusions,” said Sumerah.
Sobia added: “We know our patients very well as their conditions are long-term, so we see them frequently, and we wanted to involve them in creating a space that they wanted. We’ve held listening events with patients and the architect to get the design right, and everyone is really pleased with the result.”
The transfusion unit treats patients from age 16 and from all over the Bradford district.