The search goes on for new blood

THE insertion of a needle into a vein to extract a pint of precious red liquid is what most people associate with blood donation. But it is simply the most symbolic aspect of a highly- organised, multimillion pound operation that saves thousands of lives each year.

Around two million volunteer donors collectively give around 2.4 million pints of blood annually. The blood, which is collected at 19,000 donor sessions, is processed, tested for safety, and supplied by the National Blood Service to 350 hospitals in England on a round- the-clock basis, 365 days a year.

The process starts at the donor session. Maureen Pinnington, a donor carer for the London and south east regional service, explains: "I meet people as they arrive, enter their details on a computer, and check the iron levels in their blood. The patients are taken to the bed, and the blood bag is labelled." At this point the needle is inserted. This will be done by a qualified nurse, or a donor carer who has been trained in the use of needles.

"I keep an eye on the donor to make sure they do not faint or suffer other adverse reactions," says Maureen. "When the needle is taken out I dress the puncture and check the donor is ok. The the donor goes off to get the famous cup of tea." Maureen, whose duties take her to different locations every day over a 50-mile radius of north London and Hertfordshire, says. "You meet lots of people and it's a great atmosphere."

Shirley Patten, a blood service nurse, oversees the donor sessions. "My job is to make sure everything runs smoothly and ensure the safe delivery of blood." Shirley joined the blood service last year. She had left the NHS in the 1970s and worked in social services and for a travel company giving immunisation advice. But she was attracted back by the family-friendly hours.

"I work 37 and a half hours a week over four days. It's a challenging job, but I enjoy it. It also has a good pension scheme and job security. It's certainly better than the private sector."

After the blood has been collected it is then processed and screened. David Wenham is manager of donation testing at the north London blood centre in Colindale. "Our job is to make sure there are no infections, transmissible bacteria or viruses such as HIV or hepatitis present in the blood samples."

His 26-strong team of lab scientists check that the blood has been identified as the correct group. "We have stringent standards, and a fully automated computer processing system to ensure the blood is safe," says David. "It's an important job.

What we do saves lives, but if we get it wrong it can kill people - it keeps you on your toes."

Blood stocks are routinely delivered to hospitals. But in emergencies a "blue-light" rapid delivery service is on hand to get supplies to any hospital in the south east within two hours.

Andrew Fricker is one of the driver's responsible for delivering the blood in a hurry. He had two weeks training with the Surrey Ambulance Service who taught him how to drive quickly and safely. "The emphasis is on driving safely, not at high speeds," he says.

Maintaining the cycle of blood donation requires a massive marketing effort.

Lynsey Rowe, a marketing executive at the blood service's Brentwood centre, helps organise five donor sessions a day during the week as well as two Sunday sessions across Essex and east London.

"It's like opening up a shop front every day in a new location, making sure it is advertised, liaising with volunteers, and working with schools and businesses to find donors."

Andrew adds: "The donors are the heroes. We try to do our best because they have done their best."

* To give blood, call 0345 711711.

BLOOD FACTS

* The London and south east region of the National Blood Service employs around 1,800 staff and has an annual budget of just over 80 million.

* Vacancies arise each week, although it is particularly keen to attract qualified nurses. Salaries for donor carers range from 8,705 to 10,650.

Qualified nurses are paid at the NHS national rates with London weighting.

Emergency drivers salaries are on a scale of 10,742 to 17,148. Marketing attracts both graduates and, for junior positions, school- leavers. Pay ranges from 13,000 to 20,000. Lab staff are normally qualified to at least degree level. Biomedical scientists' pay scale starts at 8,157 rising to 23,471 for senior staff.

* The National Blood Service website is at www.bloodnet.nbs.nhs.uk

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