3:20pm Tuesday 4th August 2009
Staff are cutting back on blood transfusions at the Dorset County Hospital with new equipment.
They are cleaning, filtering and pumping blood back into patients during operations.
It means blood lost during surgery can go back into the body and reduce the need for transfusions.
Hip surgeon Peter Ward insists all re-do hip operations have the machine available.
On average, the equivalent of nearly two pints of blood are given back to each patient while they are still asleep.
Mr Ward said: “The need for blood donors remains but using this cell saver machine and new drains allows precious donated blood to be saved for those needing emergency transfusions.”
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