New Zealand Blood Service and Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust celebrate a decade of lifesaving impact

In 2015, following a three-month trial, the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (ARHT), in partnership with New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS), made history as the first emergency ambulance service in New Zealand to carry units of O negative blood for pre-hospital transfusions on every flight. 

A decade on, the partnership has made it possible for over 200 patients to receive around 315 units of blood in time critical pre-hospital transfusions.  

Looking back at the past decade, Northern Rescue Medical Director Chris Denny credits this collaboration with New Zealand Blood Service for helping to ensure interprofessional clinical teams can provide care in motion in the setting of critical hemorrhage.

“Carrying whole blood products on every mission enables the doctor-paramedic team on board to provide the best possible care without delay,” he said.

“Our partnership with New Zealand Blood Service has been essential in improving patient outcomes across countless missions, helping to bring more equitable access to emergency care and better health outcomes to some of our most isolated regions.”

One patient who understands the lifesaving impact of the partnership is Jono Magee. In 2020 Jono suffered major trauma injury following a skydiving accident, the severity of his injuries meant every second was vital in the battle to save his life. He received two units of blood and plasma on route to Auckland City Hospital, helping to significantly improve his chances of survival. 

“I have no memory of the accident itself, and my first memories are from weeks later,” says Jono. “I do know I was pretty banged up and barely hanging on. Without the blood transfusions before I got to hospital, I probably wouldn't have made it. When I do think about it, I realise how incredibly lucky I am."

Ten years of close collaboration has allowed both organisations to develop seamless systems that support innovation, reduce the potential for wastage and ensure patients are given the highest quality of care, says New Zealand Blood Service Transfusion Medicine Specialist Richard Charlewood.

“When our partnership with Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust was first established, it was groundbreaking.

“Both ARHT and Northern Rescue are very respectful custodians of donated blood products, they understand that every donation is gift and in fact several of team are also blood and plasma donors themselves which is awesome.”

Whilst it is important to recognise the milestone of a decade of partnership, Charlewood is already anticipating what the next ten years will bring.

“Transfusion medicine has advanced significantly in recent years, and we are excited to explore innovative new ways to approach emergency medicine together with ARHT and Northern Rescue.”

About Northern Rescue

Northern Rescue Helicopter Limited is a joint venture between the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (ARHT) and the Northland Emergency Services Trust (NEST) and is the contracted service provider to Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora and ACC for emergency air ambulance helicopter services in the northern region of Aotearoa New Zealand. It is the only aeromedical provider in New Zealand who provide a 24/7 doctor - intensive care paramedic model of care and therefore the only emergency care provider in New Zealand able to transfuse blood products outside of hospital.

Northern Rescue carries universal donor (O-negative) blood products on every flight, and responds to over 1,000 missions a year, providing medical care to critically unwell patients.

For media inquiries, please contact: 

Sandy Trigg, Sandy.trigg@networkcommunication.co.nz, 021 231 9406

Dr Alana Harper with a Credo Cube Blood Bag