New Filton Blood Centre to open in July

When the new Filton Blood Centre opens on 8th July, the National Blood Service will be pleased to name it a centre of excellence and the largest blood processing centre in the world. As well as its daily testing and processing functions, the new £60 million Filton centre will be able to offer both employees and students a chance to educate themselves further in an environment of increased space and cutting edge technology.

The University of Bristol's MSc in Transfusion & Transplantation Sciences will be based at the new centre and will benefit from the larger teaching facilities. It will continue to contribute to the progress of blood centres and blood safety worldwide. The MSc course was set up with the Bristol Institute of Transfusion Science and University of Bristol in 1999 and has taught over 100 students from UK blood centres and hospitals. The course is suitable for UK and overseas scientists from clinical and non-clinical backgrounds wishing to extend their expertise in the laboratory aspects of stem cell and solid organ transplantation and blood transfusion.

Internally the National Health Service Blood & Transfusion (NHSBT) Scientific & Technical Training team will also be pleased to offer vocational scientifically based courses for different NHS & NBS staff grades and training for pre and post registration Biomedical scientists.

The new state-of-the-art-centre will provide unparalleled facilities including interactive white boards and an extensive library with a resident librarian which will allow a greater flexibility and variety on current teaching methods. When the dedicated training laboratory is operational the venue will be able to double the current Southmead teaching capacity, allowing 20 students to participate in hands-on practical work at any one time.

The new Filton site will provide the National Blood Service (NBS) with a facility that will help to provide a more stimulating, interesting and interactive learning environment. The flexible and modern premises will ensure that staff can be developed to their full potential so the NBS will be even better placed to save and improve patients' lives.

Would you like to help the NBS with their life saving work? If you're interested in becoming a blood donor, normal blood collection sessions will continue around your local area.  For further information on your nearest session or to book an appointment to give blood, please call the National Donor Helpline on 08457 711 711 or see the website.