Transfusion 2024: A 5‐year plan for clinical and laboratory transfusion in England

Abstract

The Transfusion 2024 plan outlines key priorities for clinical and laboratory transfusion practice for safe patient care across the NHS for the next 5 years. It is based on the outcomes of a multi-professional symposium held in March 2019, organised by the National Blood Transfusion Committee (NBTC) and NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), attended and supported by Professor Keith Willet and Dame Sue Hill on behalf of NHS England and Improvement. This best practice guidance contained within this publication will facilitate the necessary change in pathway design to meet the transfusion challenges and pressures for the restoration of a cohesive, and functional, healthcare system across the NHS following the COVID-19 pandemic. K E Y W O R D S 5-year transfusion plan, clinical and laboratory transfusion, hospital laboratory safety, IT and transfusion, patient blood management, transfusion research and development

How can we ensure that the right patient gets the right blood at the right time?

“…In the UK, blood is used to provide lifesaving support for around 3500 patients each day, 3 but mistakes with transfusions recur, despite numerous warnings from the NHS central patient safety alerting system. The number of deaths related to blood transfusions has more than doubled since the covid-19 pandemic 4 and the Serious Hazards of Transfusion group reports that these numbers have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, remaining at or above 35 deaths per annum since 2020.…”