Blood transfusion using cell salvage to be made available for mums giving birth in Elgin

The range of specialist services provided to mums giving birth via caesarean section at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin is expanding, with a ‘cell salvage’ option for blood transfusion to be introduced this summer.

Cell salvage is already available at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital for those at high risk of bleeding during birth, and now the option will be made available for all mums having caesarean sections at Dr Gray’s.

NHS Grampian Consultant Anaesthetist and Training Programme Director, Calum McDonald explained: “Cell salvage works by collecting blood lost during surgery, ‘washing’ it and then giving it back to the patient during the operation. It’s a great alternative to using donated blood, has the added benefit of helping to reduce recovery times when a blood transfusion is needed, and we’re pleased we will be able to offer this at Dr Gray’s in the coming months.

“It’s a well-established technique at hospitals across the UK and it’s a great step forward for our Maternity Collaborative across Elgin, Inverness and Aberdeen. Cell salvage machines are operated by theatre staff, with clinical decisions around using the blood and management of bleeding being made by the anaesthetist.

“The team at Dr Gray’s is going through extensive training and are looking forward to putting these skills into practice. If anyone due to give birth at Dr Gray’s in the near future has any questions, please have a chat with your midwife in the first instance.”

Midwifery Professional Clinical Lead for the Moray Maternity Programme, Jane Raitt added: “The team is continuing to make fantastic progress in terms of developing or redeveloping their skillset, making sure families in our care have a fantastic experience of giving birth at Dr Gray’s. Thank you to everyone involved in making this important service possible.”

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