Senior leaders of the NHS met last week to discuss how to improve the safety of blood transfusion and begin development of a new five-year strategy. The meeting involved the National Blood Transfusion Committee, NHS Blood and Transplant and NHS England.
The plans follow the completion of many objectives of Transfusion 2024 over the last five years - and are being closely aligned with recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry report, the experts say.
Dr Gail Miflin, chief medical officer of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We're pleased that the Infected Blood Inquiry report recognised the significance of Transfusion 2024 and the need for a new strategy. We all want to make a positive difference in transfusion care but we must not be complacent. This symposium is a chance to turn lessons learned into action.”
The summit agreed that the NHS needs new technology to track all blood in the system. The attendees also discussed proposals to make more use of tranexamic acid to reduce blood loss in surgery and efforts to improve data on patient outcomes. There are also challenges in staffing levels and training, the summit heard.
The meeting called for use of evidence to improve use of blood – noting that about one fifth of transfusions are outside guidelines. It noted that there is no national system for recording how much blood is held in hospitals – and proposed increased education on alternatives to transfusion.
NHS England medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said: “Blood underpins many critical areas across the NHS and now is a timely point to review progress of the current transfusion plan, as we continue to learn lessons from the past through the Infected Blood Inquiry. We are investing in projects that drive forward our inequality reduction work, such as a world first blood group genotyping programme for people with sickle cell and thalassaemia.
“This new joint strategy will enable us to go further for patients in ensuring safe and effective transfusion practice.”
Source: NHS Blood and Transplant
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