27 Apil 2018 (Friday) - NHSBT Update

This morning I received the monthly update from NHSBT. Some interesting little snippets – nothing earth-shattering, but actually useful for day-to-day working in a blood bank.

I don’t think I’ve seen one of these updates for a while… I wonder why that is?

10 March 2017 (Friday) - NHSBT update

The NHSBT update arrived in my inbox this morning

February 2017

Please add new product codes for washed red cells by end February
Ordering HEV screened blood components & introducing 100% screening
New referral forms and user guides for referring samples to Molecular Diagnostics for your team’s attention

Register for SHOT symposium

Blood pack validations: appearance of packs may differ slightly
New PBM bookmarks and revised patient information leaflet
Group AB Pooled Cryoprecipitate stock
Our Satisfaction Survey Availability of Specialist Components from Stock Holding Units

Training and events

28 November 2016 (Monday) - NHSBT Communication

The November communication to hospitals from NHS Blood and Transplant from NHSBT became available today

For Action 

1.1  Revisions to Iron in your diet patient information leaflet and educational resources

1.2 Invitation to submit an abstract for the SHOT Symposium 12 July 2017 

For Information

2.1 Choosing Wisely UK campaign launch

2.2 NICE guidance for fetal Rh D genotype

2.3 RCI will be changing the wording of reports for feto-maternal haemorrhage investigations 

For Training

3.1 Training & Education Events and Courses

Not that much of direct relevance to me… but anything learned is never wasted…

20 July 2016 (Wednesday) - NHSBT Newsletter

The e-newsletter from NHSBT arrived this morning. It followed its usual format

For Action

1.1 “Save one O D Neg a week” campaign and O D Neg Toolkit

For Information

2.1 SHOT Annual Report for events reported in 2015
2.2 Patient Information Leaflets and Educational Resources
2.3 National Paediatric Conference
2.4 Haemoglobinopathy Genotyping Initiative – close of project
2.5 New genotype tests and pricing at IBGRL
2.6 Replacement of 3 part paper issue note and OBOS Development

For Training

3.1 Training & Education Events and Courses

Whilst it was all quite interesting (for once!) I found myself intrigued by the need for more O Neg blood. Being O Neg myself perhaps I might become a donor again…

2 June 2016 (Thursday) - NHSBT Newsletter

The latest communication to hospitals from NHS Blood and Transplant arrived by email today; it is on-line at http://hospital.blood.co.uk/media/28342/the-update-june-2016.pdf

As always its contents came in three sections

For Action 

1.1 Ordering patient information leaflets and educational resources order details

1.2  Standing orders in OBOS

1.3 Last chance for testing haemoglobinopathy samples at no extra cost 

  

For Information 

2.1 New British Society for Haematology Guidelines

2.2 Blood Stocks Management Scheme Educational Roadshows  

  

For Training 

3.1 Annual SHOT Symposium 2016 Registration Now Open

3.2 Training & Education Events and Courses  

It made for interesting reading. I was particularly intrigued by the need for Ro blood (cDe). Surely rr (cde) does the same thing and is more readily available?

29 April 2016 (Friday) - NHSBT Communication

The April communication from NHSBT came today by email. There were several points of note:

For Action

1.1 Introduction of three new FFP product bar codes

1.2 Questions about blood transfusion and blood donation? We want to hear from you

1.3 An affordable and comprehensive DNA test to diagnose rare inherited diseases

 For Information

2.1 Blood Component Temperature Excursion

2.2 Customer Satisfaction

2.3 Blood Stocks Management Scheme Educational Roadshows

2.4 Extension of the post-thaw shelf life of FFP for Major Haemorrhage

2.5 HEV negative components- further information

 For Training

3.1 Training & Education Events and Courses 

Whilst the stuff about donations and DNA testing was interesting, the stuff about FFP was actually rather useful.

In the past I’ve been less than enthusiastic about this communication. This one was better than usual…

19 February 2016 (Friday) - NHSBT Newsletter

The NHSBT Newsletter arrived by email today

http://hospital.blood.co.uk/media/28124/the-update-feb-2016-website-versionv5.pdf

As always it came in three sections:

For Action

1.1  Update on Extended Blood Group Testing for patients with Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Disorders

For Information

2.1 From 1st March 2016 NHSBT Filton plans to reduce the amount of CMV screening it performs

2.2 Updated SHOT Reporting Definitions, including reference to HEV negative components

2.3 Forthcoming extension to past-thaw expiry of FFP

For Training

3.1 Training & Education Events and Courses

For me the interesting thing was the discussion about extending the lifetime of thawed FFP. Back in the day the stuff had four hours after defrosting. Now it has one day. And it looks like this will be extended to five days….

1 February 2016 (Monday) - NHSBT Newsleter

The NHSBT e-newsletter arrived today.

For Action

1.1  New OBOS 7.1.5 Release

For Information

2.1 NHSBT TACSI Platelet Production

2.2 Customer Satisfaction

2.3 Patient Blood Management (PBM) Team PBM Newsletter – Issue 5

2.4 Consent pages on the Hospitals and Science website

2.5 Single Unit Transfusion Policy – Implementation Guide

2.6 An invitation to help to identify the uncertainties that surround Blood Transfusion and Blood Donation

For Training

3.1 Scientific & Clinical Course dates

This newsletter doesn’t actually carry the information. It just tells me what is available at http://hospital.blood.co.uk/  - perhaps I’m thick but I struggle to find anything on that website

22 December 2015 (Tuesday) - NHSBT Update

The December communication to hospitals from NHS Blood and Transplant came out today

It covered topics such as:

1.1  Group A FFP in trauma where the recipient's ABO group is not known

1.2  Stock Management of platelets over Christmas and New Year

1.3  NHSBT plans to produce HEV screened negative components

2.1 Update of H&I User Guide for 2015 – 2016

2.2 Therapeutic Apheresis Services Officially Open Oxford Unit

2.3 Supply Chain Modernisation (SCM) Project

2.4 NHSBT Mass Casualty Plans

2.5 New Patient Information Leaflets and updated Educational Resource

3.1 Training & Education Events and Courses

Sometimes this update is interesting, sometimes rather dull. This was one of the better ones…

26 November 2015 (Thursday) - NHSBT Newsletter

The November communication to hospitals from NHS Blood and Transplant came out today

http://hospital.blood.co.uk/

At first sight it seemed rather interesting:

• For Action
  
  1.1  Stock Management of platelets over Christmas and New Year
  1.2  Customer Satisfaction
  1.3  Updated Patient Information Leaflets
  1.4  Points of note from the National Commissioning Group for Blood

• For Information
  2.1 Update on Extended Blood Group Testing for patients with Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Disorders

• For Training
  3.1 Training & Education Events and Courses

It *was*….

3 November 2015 (Tuesday) - NBS Communication

The October (?!) communication to hospitals from NHS Blood and Transplant came out today http://hospital.blood.co.uk/

It covered some interesting points

• NHSBT Launch its First Therapeutic Apheresis Service in London
• New Phlebotomist and Porter learning pathways on learnbloodtransfusion
• New OBOS version release
• Improvements to NHSBT Recall Process – Stage One
• Advanced 1 day course on ABO Blood Group Systems
• Training & Education Events and Courses

Personally I was quite interested in the Advanced 1 day course on ABO Blood Group Systems. I wonder how much it would cost…

30 September 2015 (Wednesday) - NBS Communique

September’s communication to hospitals from NHS Blood and Transplant came out today.

http://hospital.blood.co.uk/ 

The first two items: addition of HbS to the Electronic Despatch Note  and changes to Adverse Incident Reporting were rather dull

The “For Information” seemed more relevant to me, covering the roll-out of pooled platelets in additive and plasma, the Electronic Requesting & Reporting for Blood Transfusion, Revised BCSH Guidelines on Group A Plasma and LIMS functionality and the British Committee for Standards in Haematology Guidelines on the Identification and Management of Pre-Operative Anaemia.

Mind you the NBTC/NHSBT National Patient Blood Management Survey - October 2015 and the RCI Quarterly Update were rather dry

I had high hopes for the bit about Training & Education Events and Courses, but (usually) the courses are rather impractical. This time none were listed Which is a shame

24 April 2015 (Friday) - An Email

From: NHSBT Customer Service [mailto:-deleted email address-] Sent: 23 April 2015 15:22 To: Transfusion Laboratory Managers; Transfusion Practitioners; Consultant Haematologist; HTC Chairs Subject: NHSBT: April Communication from NHS Blood and Transplant - Information only Dear Colleague Please note that the April communication to hospitals from NHS Blood and Transplant is now available on our website, please see link below: http://hospital.blood.co.uk/  Please note that this month's communication includes the following information: For Action 1.1  OBOS Training System 6.0.2 1.2  New Transport Containers For Information 2.1 Two brand new Patient Information Leaflets launched 2.2 Patient Information Leaflet – Blood Groups and Red Cell Antibodies in Pregnancy Version 3 2.3 Update on NHSBT Platelet Supply Project 2.4 NHSBT TACSI Platelet Production 2.5 New OBOS version release dates For Training 3.1 Training & Education Events and Courses Regards Customer Service NHS Blood and Transplant Tel: :-deleted phone number- Email: :-deleted email address-

The NHSBT newsletter is usually quite interesting... I found this one something of a disappointment...