Hospital Blood Data Integration Project (HoBDIP)
Project leads: Matthew Bend, Blood Stocks Management Scheme Manager / Christine Gallagher, Hospital Blood Data Integration Development Lead T2024
Hospital blood data integration is outlined as a key priority in the Transfusion 2024 strategic plan aimed at addressing persistent gaps in stock visibility, enabling rapid, good quality data exchange and improving transfusion safety. Amber Alerts and stock challenges further emphasised the current lack of end-to-end visibility across the supply chain and the lack of clarity on stock levels across NHSBT and hospitals.
The objective is to trial the automated, electronic collection of component and patient datasets from the hospital laboratory information management system (LIMS). Patient datasets will be collected for components that have been transfused. This data will then be overlaid with NHSBT data from PULSE (NHSBT LIMS) using the donation number, providing enhanced visibility and granularity across the whole supply chain. Linking the two datasets will provide insight into the complete journey, from donation to final fate, of every blood component issued by NHSBT.
The immediate benefits for hospitals will be the time saved on collecting and submitting stock and wastage data to the Blood Stocks Management Scheme via VANESA. In return, hospitals will gain access to real-time data dashboards and enhanced benchmarking reports that provide actionable insight for optimising stock levels and reducing avoidable wastage.
This project is currently in the proof-of-concept phase and is due for completion in March 2026. The focus is to work with around ten to fifteen hospitals to test the solution, and the learning will inform a business case for wider roll-out to all hospitals served by NHSBT.
