| GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS |
| Hospital transfusion laboratory staffing must be sufficient for safe transfusion practice | Professional and accrediting bodies |
| Education and training are of key importance for safe and effective blood transfusion practice. Education in blood transfusion must be included in the curriculum for all clinical staff involved in prescribing and administering blood. Adequate resource is needed in Trusts to ensure that all staff involved in the transfusion chain in hospitals must receive appropriate training, which must be documented. Effectiveness of training should be assessed with assessment based on competency | General Medical Council, Deans of Schools of Nursing and Medical Schools, Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Medical Royal Colleges |
| INCORRECT BLOOD COMPONENT TRANSFUSED |
| All newly qualified doctors must receive education in blood transfusion as recommended by the CMO for England. A web-based education package (www.learnbloodtransfusion.org) is included in the FY1curriculum in Scotland and should be implemented throughout the UK | Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board |
| NEAR MISS |
| Training and education in blood sampling, including the practical aspects of venepuncture and positive patient ID, should be included in the curriculum for medical and nursing students | Undergraduate Deans of Schools of Nursing and Medicine |