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Blood transfusion - safe transfusion practice

"Right Blood, Right Patient, Right Time"

In an acute hospital setting the transfusion of blood components and blood products is an integral part of everyday life. It is a life saving therapy when used appropriately and will improve the quality of life in a large range of clinical conditions. However, like any other clinical intervention, there are a number of risks associated with blood transfusion. Safe Transfusion Practice relies on collaborative teamwork, as blood transfusion is a complex, high risk and multi-step procedure.

Blood Transfusion:Blood Transfusion

While there is wide recognition of the risks of blood borne infections, the operational safety of blood transfusion is a greater problem (SHOT, 2002 - 2004). Every year since 1996 the Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) scheme reports that human error has been the major contribution to morbidity and mortality in blood transfusion. Errors such as:

Incorrect patient identification, at the time of taking a pre-transfusion sample or at the time of administrating a transfusion.
Incorrect blood component transfused partly due to incorrect ordering and prescribing.
Incorrect management of query transfusion adverse events/reactions can be eradicated with Training and Education.

Initiatives by the government to improve transfusion practice include the publication of the Health Service Circular (HSC) 1998/224, Better Blood Transfusion (BBT) and Better Blood Transfusion 2 (BBT2) (HSC 2002/2006) and the introduction of transfusion standards in the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST) making Blood Transfusion training mandatory.

In order to facilitate training and education in this field SUHT has signed up to the 'ORAS Gold flexible learning' which is an Online Recording and Assessment System (ORAS Gold). It is a learning management system that records and reports any learning you as user undertake on Better Blood Transfusion Continuing Education Programme e-learning website.

Topic

Rationale for Need

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Staff Group

Blood Transfusion; Safe Transfusion Practice - Level one

The EU Directive 2005 and British Criminal Law state that all those who are involved with the transfusion process must receive training and yearly updates.

Clinical Negligence Service for Trusts (CNST) also requires this.

SUHT Blood Transfusion Policy|

1½ hours anually.

It is strongly recommended that all new doctors complete the Learn blood transfusion E-learning package within 4 weeks of induction.

The Learn blood transfusion E-learning package can also serve as a yearly update.

Please follow the instructions on the fact-sheet to register online to do the course.

In order to register you need to use your National Insurance number and register under 'NHS England'. When you are asked to download flashplayer in order to access the package the option to download the Yahoo toolbar will also appear.

Please choose the option not to download the Yahoo toolbar.

The Learn blood transfusion E-learning package is generic hence it is important that you also refer to the SUHT Blood Transfusion Policy| to familiarise yourself with local policy.

This is the basic training for all those members of staff who are involved in the transfusion process i.e, Porters, HCAs, Nurses, Midwives, Theatre Practitioners, Phlebotomist, Perfusionists, Medical Staff & Lab Staff.