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EMERGENCY

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LBH_UHA photo
Published: 14 May 2025

Lismore Base Hospital is now equipped with a $41,800 cell saver machine thanks to the generosity and tireless efforts of the Lismore Base Hospital United Hospital Auxiliary (UHA).

Used during surgeries to return a patient’s blood back to their body, the machine is expected to help improve recovery outcomes and reduce the reliance on donor blood.

UHA President Judy Larrescy said the Auxiliary was proud to fund a priority item from the hospital’s annual wish-list.

“The cell saver was a priority and after hearing what the machine did, we voted to purchase it,” Judy said.

The UHA, which has served the Lismore community for more than a century, raised the funds through raffles, community donations, special events and proceeds from its gift shop in the hospital foyer.

Anaesthetists and theatre nurses who have undergone specific training will use the cell saver machine in the hospital’s operating theatres.

Richmond Network Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine Director Dr Melissa Goldberg said the equipment was a well-established tool that was helpful in surgeries where significant blood loss was expected.

“The benefits of cell salvage to the patient includes reduction in the incidence of donor red cell transfusion requirements and the complications associated with donor transfusions such as infections, blood group mismatch, transfusion reactions, handling and storage errors,” Melissa said.

“It also reduces the incidence of severe postoperative anaemia, lowers postoperative infection rates and shortens hospital stays compared to patients receiving allogenic blood.”

The machine is an option for trauma patients and people with rare blood types or religious beliefs that prevent them from receiving donor blood.

Lismore Base Hospital Logistics and Procurement Perioperative Services Nurse Manager David Gray said until now, the hospital relied on booking an external technician and cell saver machine, which wasn’t always possible, particularly in urgent cases.

“If we had an emergency, we would try and order both at short notice, but this was often not successful because of timing and travel. This also meant that not all patients who may benefit from cell salvage had access to it,” David said.

“Having our own equipment means that all patients can be considered for cell salvage and the patients that absolutely need it will get it.”

The hospital extends its thanks to the UHA and the broader community for their incredible support in making this life-saving donation possible.

Pictured:

Front from left: Julie Lavis UHA, Judy Larrescy UHA president, Lyn McLean, Heath Lang RN, Dr Melissa Goldberg, Priscilla Beardow, UHA, Rhonda Powell, UHA.

Back from left: Pauline Strong UHA, Ia Hatton GM LBH, Marilyn McInerney, Wendy Painter, UHA, Colleen Nicholls, NUM, David Gray, Rebecca Porter, RN operating theatres.