Vital blood delivery service continues thanks to Lord Combustion Services

21 Mar 2024

Published in: Member News

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Commercial heating and ventilation specialist Lord Combustion Services has funded a new Toyota Yaris for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity so the pre-hospital organisation can continue to receive blood and blood products for its lifesaving service.

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Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has been carrying blood on-board its three aircraft and fleet of critical care cars since 2017.

As part of the team’s advanced clinical skillset, the critical care paramedics and doctors are able to administer blood at the scene of an incident to give patients in critical need the very best chance of survival and a good recovery.

Previously volunteers conveyed the blood via Blood Bikes, a not-for-profit service that provides essential transportation to healthcare organisations, such as Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.

This transportation method is no longer available for the Strensham airbase, so Lord Combustion Services was keen to step in and support this vital component of the charity’s operations.

The new Toyota Yaris will operate alternate nights, conveying the blood between the Blood Bank at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s Strensham airbase on the Worcestershire / Gloucestershire border.

To ensure there is no wastage, unused blood products will be returned to the Blood Bank well before an expiration date.

Pam Hodgetts, corporate partnerships manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, stated: “Our clinicians are dealing with some of the most critically unwell patients in the region and if they have suffered significant blood loss, the ability to give blood on scene is essential.

“The critical care paramedics and doctors could not offer this intervention without the support of the voluntary transport team, who are reliant on having a suitable vehicle to convey the blood and blood products.

“We are truly grateful for the volunteers who run the transport service, and would like to give special thanks to Lord Combustion Services for this incredible level of support, which will ultimately help save lives and keep families together.”

Oldbury-based Lord Combustion Services, the Chamber of Commerce's 2023 armed forces award winner, is a long-term supporter of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity having last year contributed equivalent to the funds for three air ambulance missions and five missions in the pre-hospital service’s three critical cars through donations made at a dinner held to celebrate the company’s 40th anniversary.

Stuart Smith, managing director for Lord Combustion Services, added: “Working across the West Midlands to deliver high quality heating and hot water services for 1,000 customers, we appreciate the size of the region covered by Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and wanted to support them to deliver blood for their lifesaving services.

“The Midlands Air Ambulance team and the voluntary transport team provide vital work so we are pleased to help a good cause which will help so many people when they need it most.”

• To find out more about Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s lifesaving work, visit midlandsairambulance.com and follow the organisation on social media.
• For more information about Lord Combustion Services visit: www.lordcombustion.co.uk and follow them on LinkedIn.