In November 2023, SHOT and the UK Transfusion Laboratory Collaborative (UKTLC) conducted a survey on safety culture within the transfusion laboratories across UK. The summary report along with key recommendations to improve safety culture has now been published on the SHOT website and can be accessed either on the surveys page or the UKTLC webpage. A document with suggestions to improve safety culture has also been created based on ongoing initiatives in various parts of the UK to support healthcare organisations and is available at the same links.
Please note that SHOT Bite (SHOT Bite 24) about speaking up for safety culture can also be accessed.
SHOT and the UKTLC would like to express our sincere gratitude to all who responded to the survey and shared their lived experiences. Your responses have helped to highlight the concerns regarding safety culture in laboratories and has informed improvement actions at a national level.
The 2023 SHOT and UKTLC laboratory culture survey reveals a concerning situation. It suggests that transfusion laboratory staff across the UK report feeling psychologically unsafe, with issues sometimes ignored and a degree of incivility present. This culture requires attention. Organisations must encourage a culture and have a clear strategy to listen to staff, support them, and actively work to create safe, positive work environments. This isn’t just about staff wellbeing – it’s about ensuring the highest quality care for patients.
Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) President Joanna Andrew