The Government Vellore Medical College Hospital (GVMCH) has set up an exclusive blood bank for its Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) centre. This was to cater to emergencies in the labour ward.

Vinitha Padmini Mary, head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GVMCH, said though the hospital already had a blood bank, they have set up an exclusive facility for the labour ward to save time.

‘Cater to emergencies’

“The existing blood bank caters to the whole hospital. Through this new blood bank, we want to avoid wasting time in getting blood for mothers in labour, and for newborns. There could be emergencies during or after delivery such as haemorrhage and other complications in mothers. When there is such an urgent need, having a blood bank at the CEmONC centre will save time,” she said.

About 12,000 deliveries take place at GVMCH every year, she added. The department has also set up an Intra Uterine Insemination Laboratory. This would help in to treating infertility in couples.

GVMCH dean R. Shantimalar inaugurated the facilities recently.