Committee Members

Professor Cheng-Hock Toh is Professor at the Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool and Consultant Haematologist at the Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He is the Academic Vice-President of the Royal College of Physicians (London) and completed terms of office as President of the British Society for Haematology and as National Haematology Lead of the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network in April 2020. In addition to his clinical leadership and academic credentials, he is Senior Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy

His translational research programme on understanding blood changes during infection and critical illness is world leading and has come to the fore during COVID-19. With his track record of inclusive leadership, his comprehensive skill set will re-define how NBTC grows and sustains its impact on transfusion practice nationally and internationally.

Youssef is a Consultant Haematologist and Associate Medical Director for Clinical Safety working at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He is Deputy Chair of the National Blood Transfusion Committee and Clinical Lead for Transfusion/Hospital Transfusion Committee Chair at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals. Youssef was previously Chair of the Yorkshire Regional Transfusion Committee (2012- 2021) and subsequently Chair of the North East and Yorkshire Regional Transfusion Committee following the merger of the two regions in November 2021 (2021-2023).

Youssef is also Deputy Chair of the South Yorkshire Haemato-oncology MDM for Myeloproliferative diseases, as well as, Association of Clinical Pathologists representative on the National Quality Assurance Advisory Panel for Haematology.

Andy is a Consultant Haematologist working in a joint post between NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and Newcastle Hospitals.  He is Secretary to the National Blood Transfusion Committee, Clinical Lead for the Patient Blood Management and Components clinical team, supports the NHSBT Red Cell Immuno-haematology clinical service and is Clinical Lead for Transfusion and Myeloma at Newcastle Hospitals.

Andy also supports regional and national transfusion education initiatives and is involved in guideline-writing and examining. He is an active PI, and UK CI for the REDDS-2 trial. 

Celina Bernstrom is Executive Assistant to the National Blood Transfusion Committee (NBTC) supporting the NBTC and the Regional Transfusion Committee Chairs (RTCs). She also supports subsidiary working groups; Patient Involvement, Transfusion Laboratory Managers, National Transfusion Practitioner Network, Haematology & Trauma, and Emergency Planning working groups.

Celina promotes effective working relationships within NBTC/NHSBT and with key external stakeholders acting as a central contact point for members of the NBTC and NHSBT providing information and advice/support and feeding in the activities of the working groups.