RVC opens new transfusion centre
Christianne Glossop opened the new facilities.
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has opened a Transfusion Medicine Centre at its Hawkshead Campus in North Mymms, Hertfordshire.
The centre was officially opened in a special ceremony by Christianne Glossop, chair of the RVC’s charity the Animal Care Trust. The charity gave £90,000 to the project.
The new facilities will help the RVC meet the increasing demand for blood products. The centre has separate areas for canine and feline donors and an on-site laboratory to process and store blood products.
Since the RVC launched its Blood Donor Programme in 2004, the number of regular donors has increased from 19 dogs to 150 dogs and 62 cats. In 2023, the programme facilitated a total of 711 transfusions.
Dan Chan, professor of emergency and critical care medicine at RVC, said: “Working in the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, I’ve seen first-hand how blood donations help pets every single day and the ground-breaking clinical treatment and expert care that is provided at the hospital.
“Thanks to our special donors, blood transfusions have saved thousands of lives at the RVC over the last two decades.”
“The new Transfusion Medicine Centre is essential in allowing us to expand and enhance our current facilities to ensure even more cats and dogs can be treated. We are grateful to everyone for their contributions that have helped us to achieve this important goal.”
Image © Royal Veterinary College
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
