Background
The training and education of health care professionals (HCPs) in the field of blood transfusion varies considerably depending on area of specialism and curriculum recommendations. There is no co-ordinated approach to transfusion education in terms of both curriculum content and consistency of availability.
There is little understanding of what training and education currently exists for HCPs in transfusion - for whom and provided by which institutions, nor whether it is effective or of high quality.
There is no clear national mechanism for ensuring that transfusion education is consistently appropriate for pre-registration and post-registration training of all HCPs involved in transfusion practice. This includes doctors, nurses, midwives, biomedical scientists, clinical scientists, transfusion practitioners and other relevant professional groups.
Improving transfusion education forms part of the Transfusion 2024 and now Transfusion Transformation actions to achieve world-class transfusion care for all. It is also a key recommendation from the 2024 Infected Blood Inquiry.
A more structured approach to content, design and delivery is needed, with recommendations and an action plan developed to help achieve a co-ordinated approach to transfusion education moving forward.
Remit
The aim of the NBTC education working group (EdWG) is to:
- Improve the quality and accessibility of transfusion education for pre and post registration HCPs involved in transfusion practice (including those outlined above)
- Support clear clinical, scientific and professional development pathways within transfusion practice.
The EdWG acts in an advisory capacity to NBTC. Recommendations developed by the group shall be submitted to NBTC for endorsement prior to publication as national recommendations unless otherwise delegated.
Key Objectives
Strategic leadership
Actively engage with key stakeholders so that transfusion medicine features in the undergraduate and postgraduate curricula across all relevant healthcare professions.
Contribute to the development, ratification and promotion of minimum core training requirements and assessment standards for HCPs involved in clinical transfusion practice, working collaboratively with appropriate national bodies.
Oversee the NBTC national transfusion education programme, including recommending annual priority topics for delivery through the Regional Transfusion Committees (RTCs), reviewing programme feedback to inform continuous improvement, and promoting equitable access to educational resources and event materials through the NBTC website.
Provide national oversight of the design, delivery, and consistency of transfusion education across healthcare settings, including mapping of provision and addressing unwarranted variation and equity of access.
Use findings from national surveys and stakeholder engagement to inform recommendations and, where appropriate, support policy development relating to transfusion education and authorisation.
Develop and maintain an Annual Work Plan aligned to EdWG priorities, national transfusion strategy and emerging educational needs.
Educational quality
Review accessibility of transfusion education, ensuring adequate signposting for different HCP groups to ensure role-appropriate education and training pathways.
Contribute to the critical evaluation of current educational resources, tools and courses to ensure optimal quality of transfusion education.
Support the development and evaluation of novel and innovative training methods for transfusion education including web-based tools and simulation training.
Professional workforce development
Collaborate with key stakeholders (Key Stakeholders section) to improve delivery and evaluation of undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in transfusion medicine, including haematology specialty trainees/resident doctors.
Collaborate with key stakeholders (see section 6) to support blood transfusion training of undergraduate and postgraduate nurses and midwives, based on the NMC Education Framework.
Support training and career development of Transfusion Practitioners.
Support education, training and career development for biomedical scientists, clinical scientists and other scientific professionals involved in transfusion practice.
Support and promote national guidance and governance for Non‑Medical Authorisation (NMA), including minimum competency standards, training structure and outcome evaluation, competence maintenance, documentation requirements, auditability, and recommendations on maintaining local/regional registers of authorisers.
Key Principles
The Education Working Group will:
- Promote patient-centred, evidence-based transfusion education.
- Adopt an inclusive, multidisciplinary and collaborative approach.
- Support equitable access to educational opportunities across professional groups and regions.
- Maintain transparency through timely publication of meeting records and actions.
- Review priorities and effectiveness of group annually.
Membership
Core membership to include:
- EdWG Chair
- Consultant Haematologists representing hospital trusts and NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT)
- NHSBT Clinical Lead for Education
- NHSBT Scientific and Clinical Training representative
- NHSBT Patient Blood Management Education Lead
- Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) representative
- Transfusion Practitioner representative
- Transfusion Laboratory Manager representative
- Patient representative
Other key stakeholders to be co-opted as needed e.g. Clinical Scientists, resident doctors, undergraduates, nursing/midwifery staff, blood transfusion education and discussion group (BTEDG) representative.
Administrative support will be provided by the NBTC Executive Assistant or a Regional Transfusion Committee Administrator (who will act as Secretary to the group).
Membership of the group is primarily based on representation of key professional groups and national roles. Members will normally remain in post for as long as they hold the relevant substantive position. The composition of the group, including the Chair, will be reviewed every three years to ensure that representation remains appropriate and reflects the strategic priorities of NBTC.
Key Stakeholders
Effective engagement with several key stakeholders is essential if the EdWG is to fulfil its remit under these Terms of Reference. These include:
- Transfusion Transformation/Transfusion 2024 team
- NBTC Royal Colleges and Specialist societies’ representatives
- Royal Colleges e.g. nursing, midwifery, physicians, pathologists, anaesthetists
- Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
- Higher Education Institutes
- Medical Schools
- Regional Transfusion Committees
- Hospital Transfusion Teams
- Serious Hazards of Transfusion
- NHS England Workforce, Training and Education
- General Medical Council
Working Arrangements
Meeting frequency: The EdWG will meet a minimum of three times a year, typically online (with hybrid/in-person options as required).
Quorum: Meetings shall be quorate when attended by the Chair (or deputy), one NHSBT education representative and at least three further members including representation from at least two of the following groups: clinical, laboratory and transfusion practitioner representatives.
Secretary: A member of the Regional Transfusion Committee or National Blood Transfusion Committee administrative function will act as Secretary to the group.
Minutes: Minutes will be drafted by the Secretary and circulated to members within 21 working days of each meeting. Minutes will be approved at the subsequent EdWG meeting (or exceptionally by agreement of the Chair between meetings where required). Final approved minutes will be published on the NBTC website within 28 working days of approval in the publicly accessible minutes section.
Reporting: The EdWG will report to the NBTC at each formal NBTC meeting via the Chair or a nominated representative.
Actions and Decision Log: A formal action log and decision log shall be maintained. Actions will be assigned to named individuals with agreed timelines and reviewed at each meeting to ensure appropriate progress and accountability.
Outcome Measures
Annual report to NBTC demonstrating progress against agreed objectives, supported by measurable indicators including:
- Evidence of increased inclusion of transfusion within undergraduate and postgraduate curricula across relevant healthcare professions.
- Evidence of collaboration with national agencies, professional bodies and key stakeholders to support implementation of EdWG objectives.
- Delivery and evaluation of the NBTC national transfusion education programme through the Regional Transfusion Committees (RTCs), including participation and stakeholder feedback metrics.
- Utilisation and accessibility of national transfusion educational resources, including website analytics where available.
Progress against the EdWG Annual Work Plan and associated priorities.
Review of Terms of Reference
These Terms of Reference shall be reviewed every three years, or sooner if required by NBTC, to ensure they remain aligned with national priorities and the objectives of the Education Working Group.