Poster session

Abstract

The Nightingale Hospital North West (NHNW) was a temporary field Hospital, built and run in collaboration between the NHS and the military. The Hospital was assembled in record time to combat the additional pressures placed on the NHS during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Due to the distance of the NHNW from Oxford Road Campus (ORC), the Transfusion service was asked to supply on-site O D Negative red cells for emergency blood provision on the 8th of April 2020. We needed a quick, creative and safe way to bring the blood closer to the patients. After seeing the already successful collaboration between the NHS and the military, it was decided what better way to support the war on COVID-19, but to respond as the military would. This solution came in the form of Golden HourTM Technology, Credo Cube;this technology was originally designed for the military to protect temperature sensitive components in the battlefield. Validation was carried out in a staggered approach to ensure a Credo Cube was on site as soon as possible. Each Credo Cube was validated for up to 120 hours. Variations on user preparation, packaging and stability meant we decided to adopt a 72 hour change over with the NHNW to fit in with our current workload. Continuous temperature monitoring was achieved by utilising small microchip temperature devices, to aid early detection of any problems and protect the quality of the emergency units issued. Each Credo Cube was truly-'Emergency Blood Provision in a Box'. The Cube contained giving sets and all documentation and information for the NHNW staff, including guidance on transfusion, traceability, transfer and investigation of transfusion reactions. The blood was on site by the 20th of April 2020, this was an extremely short time frame and a true collaboration between Wythenshawe Hospital and Oxford Road Campus. Our success was measured by the availability of emergency units to the NHNW patients, safeguarding against a Major Haemorrhage and supporting transfer of the critical patients back to A&E. This gave our users re-assurance that all patients within our care had the safest blood available for their needs.