This aide memoire provides suggestions to support development of effective contingency plans for planned and unplanned IT downtimes. General principles of contingency planning apply to all electronic systems used in transfusion, but this document focuses on those systems that are critical for safe transfusion practice.
SHOT IT Downtime aide memoire (pdf)
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IT cutover planning template
When upgrading or replacing IT systems there will be a period of downtime that requires preparation. The downtime may only affect a single system and a small number of individuals, or it may affect multiple systems and numerous teams. The downtime period may be minimal or protracted depending on the extent of the upgrade or replacement and the type of system.
Cutover planning is the process of preparing for the transition from an old system, process or environment to a new one. A cutover plan ensures a smooth and controlled switch with minimal disruption to business operations. Cutover planning is critical to manage the risks of the downtime period, this includes the lead in time and the post-downtime periods. Because downtimes and cutovers are specific to the type of system and extent of changes there is no ‘one size fits all’ plan, this SHOT SCRIPT template aims to provide a template that can be tailored to the specific needs of the organisation.
IT cutover planning template. March 2025 final
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Dealing with unexpected IT downtime presentation
SCRIPT member Dr Jennifer Davies presented at the BTLP UK NEQAS meeting in November 2024, outlining the important points when dealing with unexpected IT downtimes.