We take it for granted that blood will be available if we need an emergency transfusion. Mark Porter discovers how the transfusion services ensure the safe and timely provision of blood and its components. He finds out how the preparation of blood is being made more efficiently.

An alternative to receiving blood from a donor is for the patient to use their own. This is called cell salvage. Blood is collected during an operation, cleaned and then returned to the patient. Mark Porter talks to doctors and patients about the benefits of cell salvage.

Producer: Erika Wright. Show less