The Anthony Nolan Trust’s cord blood collection staff have been commended for the excellent standard of their work, by being asked to lead a week-long major training programme for obstetrics and midwifery staff at Al-Ahli hospital in Doha, Qatar.The training came as part of the opening of the country’s first public cord blood collection centre, set up by Virgin Health Bank.
Terie Duffy, Cord Blood Collection Co-ordinator for The Anthony Nolan Trust, visited the hospital during September with colleagues from The Scottish National Blood Service and Virgin National Health.Together, they trained the participants on the overall need for and benefits of cord blood, while also focussing on practical elements such as getting the maximum amount of blood from each cord.
When asked about the challenges surrounding the growing therapy of cord blood, Terie said, “One of the most important factors is education around public banking, as opposed to private.The illnesses indigenous to this ethnic group are increasing so there is a need for more cords to be available to more people through a public system.”
The training also looked at how equipment can be adapted for effective collection and the importance of aseptic methods.Terie continued, “We’re making the most of what is essentially a waste product, but there’s still a need to establish that public banking is the best way to make use of it.We will introduce a cord blood banking education programme and I’m sure that a number of families will opt to store their babies’ cord blood in the new public bank.”
