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 - for whom and provided by which institutions. There needs to be a set of recommendations and action plan developed to achieve a co-ordinated approach in the future.
There is no clear national mechanism for ensuring that transfusion education is consistent for both pre and post registration training of all HCPs (Doctors, Nurses and Midwives). A more structured approach to content, design and delivery is needed.
Remit
The overall objectives are to:
- achieve a consistent, structured approach to curriculum design for transfusion education
- collaborate with key stakeholders to improve delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in transfusion medicine
- contribute to review and strengthening of transfusion training for haematology specialist registrars
- collaborate with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and Royal College of Midwives (RCM) to support blood transfusion training of undergraduate nurses, based on the NMC Education Framework
- support training for Non-Medical Authorisation of Blood Components for post graduate nurses
- support training of Transfusion Practitioners
- support the use of nationally supported training modules for transfusion education
- promote development and evaluation of novel and innovative training methods for transfusion education including web-based tools and simulation training
- support scientific and technical training and promote the development of the Consultant Clinical Scientists.
Membership
Core membership to include:
- Consultant Haematologists, representing NHSBT and hospitals
- NHSBT Leadership, Performance and Culture representative
- Patient Blood Management Education Lead, NHSBT
- Serious Hazards of Transfusion representative
- Transfusion Practitioner representative
- Transfusion Laboratory Manager representative
Other key stakeholders to be co-opted as needed e.g., trainees, lay representatives
Administrative support will be provided by the NBTC Executive Assistant
Membership and Chair of the group will be reviewed every 2 years
Key Stakeholders
There are several key stakeholders whose engagement is essential.
- NBTC Royal Colleges and specialist societies’ representatives
- Royal Colleges
- Nursing and Midwifery Council
- Higher Education Institutes
- Medical Schools
- Regional Transfusion Committees
- Hospital Transfusion Teams
- Serious Hazards of Transfusion
- Health Education England
- General Medical Council
Outcome Measures
Development of an Annual Work Plan which is reviewed and updated every six months prior to sending to the NBTC for information with assessment of progress against key objectives
Recommendations for transfusion education are developed
Evidence of collaboration with national agencies and key stakeholders that will enable implementation of recommendations in terms of both curriculum design and delivery
Responsible for generating a list of suitable topics, for a national program of 7 educational events, which will then be passed through the RTC for ratification before the start of each financial year. The topics will be discussed at the summer NBTC EWG meeting, for sign off in November, and to be taken to NBTC Executive Woking Group/ratified by RTC Chairs via email during January. Administration of the allocation of the educational events to the RTCs (including publishing them on the NBTC website) is the responsibility of the NBTC executive assistant (may be delegated to the administrator of the NBTG Education WG)
NBTC Education Working Group Terms of Reference – September 2024