A unique collaboration between the Welsh Blood Service and Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board will see a Covid-19 field hospital in Bridgend being used to collect vital whole blood donations throughout August.
The 400-bed field hospital, located at the site of the old Harman Becker unit in Bridgend, was rapidly established at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide extra bed capacity to help take pressure off local hospitals.
Due to current low levels of hospital admissions of Covid-19 locally, the field hospital has been repurposed to provide facilities for a number of non-Covid related medical services. On the 7 August and on other key dates throughout the month, the venue will play host to local blood donors rolling up their sleeves to make their lifesaving blood donations.
Richard Lee, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board’s clinical lead for the Bridgend field hospital said: “The field hospital is an inspiring example of how organisations have been able to work flexibly to ensure resources are available to support the local population throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are delighted to be working with the Welsh Blood Service to provide a much-needed local venue to enable our communities to contribute their donations to patients in need across Wales.”
Blood stock levels have remained healthy throughout the pandemic thanks to the overwhelming support from new and existing blood donors across Wales.
Alan Prosser, Director of the Welsh Blood Service said: “We had to radically rethink our collection model at the start of the pandemic but our new ways of working have enabled us to continue to meet the needs of the patients of Wales.
“We’ve made significant changes to the service to ensure we can maintain our high levels of safety throughout the pandemic, from introducing new venues that meet the latest social distancing guidelines to rolling out PPE for all staff and enhanced cleaning of our clinical environments.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board for allowing us to make use of their venue over the coming months.
“If you haven’t given blood before, please take the time now to consider giving.”
Clinic dates at the Bridgend field hospital on the site of the old Harman Becker unit are August 7, 10, 11, 19, 20 and 21. For appointments, visit wbs.wales/app
