Background
A series of Health Service Circulars on Better Blood Transfusion, the last one being Better Blood Transfusion – Safe and Appropriate Use of Blood (HSC 2007/001) highlighted the importance of patient and public involvement in clinical transfusion practice. This has been superseded by the launch of the ‘Patient Blood Management (PBM): an evidence-based approach to patient care’ initiative in June 2012 and the release of the PBM recommendations in 2014.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Guideline (NG24) recommends that both verbal and written information is given to patients who may have or who have had a transfusion, and their family members or carers. This information should include the risks, benefits and alternatives to transfusion and the discussion should be recorded in the patient’s notes. See: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng24
There is still variation nationally in blood usage and implementation of blood sparing strategies such as restrictive transfusion triggers, investigating and treating anaemia and the use of cell salvage, despite the availability of guidelines. Raising awareness of transfusion issues is one area of PBM and aims to empower both patients and the public so that their voice is heard. PBM puts the patient at the heart of every decision and focuses on areas that are important to them, to improve clinical practice and services provided by healthcare professionals.
The Terms of Reference document for the National Blood Transfusion Committee (NBTC) and Regional Transfusion Committees (RTC) includes ‘listening to and informing patient concerns about transfusion’, and ‘providing appropriate patient information and reporting on patient’s experiences about transfusion services’. There needs to be a clear mechanism to deliver outcome measures in relation to patient involvement.
Remit
The group’s objectives are to:
Promote patient and public involvement in clinical transfusion practice.
Review current sources of patient information relating to blood transfusion and identify the need for improvement, including development of patient information leaflets, internet sites, Patient Focussed Apps and other relevant social media sites.
Review current systems and explore alternative strategies for the effective availability and dissemination of patient information.
Identify opportunities and appropriate strategies to feed back patient concerns and experiences about blood transfusion.
Collaborate with other NHS organisations to promote patient involvement in blood transfusion with a view to improving safety.
Promote National Awareness initiatives in collaboration with RTCs, Hospital Transfusion Committees / Hospital PBM Committees, Hospital Transfusion Teams, other clinical staff and community groups.
Promote audit and research in methods and outcomes in patient and public involvement strategies.
Promote guidance on consent as outlined by the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO), NICE, and the Supreme Court.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/blood-transfusion-patient-consent
Membership
Representatives from the NBTC, NHS Blood and Transplant, Hospital Transfusion Teams from NHS and Independent Healthcare providers, Patients and Patient groups.
Other members to be co-opted as needed.
Outcome Measures
Development of an Annual Work plan which is updated every six months and reviewed by the NBTC.
New strategies for patient involvement are developed.
High quality patient information resources are released with the benefit of feedback from the group.
Patient and public feedback on concerns and experiences of blood transfusion are received and addressed.
Evidence of collaboration with key national agencies in promoting patient involvement i.e. SaBTO, Department of Health, patient groups.
June 2019