A system for remote allocation of blood has enabled three London hospitals to comply with new MHRA safety regulations and to minimise waste.

The installation of five BloodTrack HemoNine remote issue blood refrigerators means that the Barts and The London NHS Trust can directly access blood from refrigerators on the wards, without the blood bank having to prepare and transport specific units.

This system has enabled the Trust to save on blood stock, staff time and overall costs across its three hospitals.

BloodTrack HemoNine from Olympus UK is a locking refrigerator for securely dispensing blood in remote locations such as operating theatres. Blood can be remotely allocated and then automatically dispensed, assigned and labelled for the patient at the refrigerator.

Matthew Grantham, Transfusion Laboratory Manager at Barts and The London, said: "BloodTrack HemoNine provides clinical staff immediate access to blood products as and when it is required, when patients really need it. The nurses love having the ability to issue blood on demand, especially in A&E where the system sits in the resuscitation area."

At The London Chest Hospital, the new system has significantly reduced blood inventory and staff time. Before the system was installed, blood was transported by taxi to clinical sites up to two miles away. Blood products were often over-requested 'in case'.

Chris Broomhead, Consultant Anaesthetist at the Barts and The London, commented: "Since the BloodTrack HemoNine has been introduced, we have reduced our blood usage in cardiothoracic surgery over the last 6 months by approximately 10%. The process of administering blood has become faster and more efficient, with reduced blood wastage."

For more details, visit www.olympuspatientsafety.co.uk.