Dr. Robin Tattersall, a surgeon who arrived in the Virgin Islands in 1965, still clearly remembers struggling early in his VI career to ensure that patients had access to blood transfusions, especially in emergencies.
At the time, he said the hospital used a “living blood bank” in the form of a book with names of people willing to donate at a moment’s notice.
In dire cases, he said, he would even head out to the streets in search of a car he would recognise, hoping to find a willing and able donor.
Fast forwarding to 2023, the Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital is now home to a newly equipped blood bank capable of better meeting the needs of patients, courtesy of a donation by the Rotary Club of Tortola.
Medical professionals and Rotarians recognised the donation during a handover ceremony on May 25.
Rotarians including club President Valerie Georges-Thomas and Assistant District Governor Ryan Geluk said they consider the donation to be one of the most impactful projects in the club’s history, and doctors said it will revolutionise the hospital’s ability to treat patients in need of blood transfusions — especially mothers delivering via caesarean section.
The equipment — which the club previously said was funded by $45,000 raised with the help of its annual Grand Raffle last year — includes new units for refrigeration and freezing, which officials said should dramatically increase the territory’s ability to maintain blood supplies.
The donation also included centrifuge equipment for running blood tests.
“It will vastly improve lives, and it will save lives, in the community,” Ms. Georges-Thomas said.
Meaningful impact
She credited Dr. Kedrick Pickering with proposing the idea for improving blood bank resources in April 2022, and the Rotary began raising funds through its raffle. She said the raffle raised $25,000, and the remainder needed to cover the cost of the equipment came from “a very generous Rotarian.”
Rotarians purchased the equipment in December and it all arrived by April, and Ms. Georges-Thomas said it has already been of service.
“We now have a properly outfitted, 21st Century blood bank at the hospital,” she said. “Ultimately, it is safe to say that the hospital is now in a much better position to serve the needs of its patients where the need arises, and we should expect to see fewer of those frantic SOS messages on social media for blood.”
Medical professionals testified to the challenges of meeting the community’s needs in the past. Dr. Pickering, who started working with the hospital in 1986, said he never in his wildest dreams would have envisioned the hospital as it is today.
Emergency surgeries posed a particular challenge, and Dr. Pickering remembered fighting to keep patients alive when blood wasn’t readily available. Even with scheduled surgeries, it was difficult to find supplies for patients with rare blood types, and they often had to wait days for blood to be shipped from Puerto Rico.
Cost of shipping
Besides costing time, shipping in blood products is expensive, BVIHSA acting CEO Dr. June Samuel said. She added that the BVIHSA has spent nearly $900,000 importing blood products from the American Red Cross over the past five years.
Other speakers included Health and Social Development Minister Vincent Wheatley, BVIHSA Chairman Ron Potter, Justice Gerard Farara, BVIHSA Lab Manager Dr. Devye Nicholson, and Deputy Chief of Medical Staff Dr. AashaMarie Flax Miller.
Future development
Dr. Pickering was optimistic that the new equipment will help patients.
Mr. Potter added that the donation particularly addresses the needs of women in childbirth. He thanked the Rotary for its support and said the BVIHSA hopes to soon announce more partnerships within the community to support health care services.
The BVIHSA is currently seeking to use those partnerships for “developing those niche areas of service which are critical to the provision of a base level of care in our community,” Dr. Samuel said.
Blood drive campaign
Soon, officials will be rolling out a public blood drive campaign. The drive will be organised in partnership with the BVIHSA and BVI Red Cross.