Covid-19 field hospital to host lifesaving blood donation sessions

A Covid-19 field hospital which has been set up in Bridgend County Borough will be used to collect vital blood donations throughout August.

The 400-bed field hospital, which is located at the site of the old Harman Becker unit on Bridgend Industrial Estate, was one of several which were rapidly established across the region to provide extra bed capacity and help take pressure off local hospitals.

Thanks to the current low levels of local Covid-19 cases, the field hospital is able to host a series of blood donation clinics on 7, 10, 11, 19, 20 and 21 August – you can make an appointment to attend and donate blood at the Welsh Blood Service website.

The Leader, Cllr Huw David, said: “The Welsh Blood Service relies on support from new and existing blood donors across Wales. Thanks to them, blood stock levels have remained healthy throughout the pandemic, and I hope that local people in Bridgend County Borough will support this latest appeal.

“Given the current low rate of infection in the area, it makes perfect sense to use the field hospital facilities while they remain relatively free, as a safe, clean environment where people can donate blood and do their bit to help combat the spread of the coronavirus.”

Richard Lee, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board’s clinical lead for Bridgend Field Hospital, added: “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.”

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 wales/app