Transfusion Practitioner

The Transfusion Practitioner will provide an advanced level of clinical practice, leadership and development within the specialist field of Transfusion Medicine. Working as part of team for the Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Network.

The position involves training and education of all staff in best practice associated with the transfusion of blood and blood products. A primary function of the role will be to influence senior clinical staff in adopting best practice within the field of transfusion.

The Transfusion Practitioner will be responsible for auditing the transfusion policies and procedures in place and ensuring staff are compliant with training and competency requirements. The practitioner will work closely with the Lead Biomedical Scientist in charge of the Blood Transfusion Laboratories to provide a safe, effective and efficient transfusion service, and minimise wastage and misuse of a limited and costly resource and promote the safe and effective use of blood products. The post holder will act as the link between the Blood Transfusion departments and the service users.

Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond.

Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter's, Chertsey, Surrey.

We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at Ashford & St Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with our strong commitment to staff health and wellbeing. We are committed to providing continuous professional development, staff benefits and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.

Clinical or technical

Promote the safe and effective choice and administration of blood components, reducing or eliminating misuse and wastage.

Maintain the minimum blood transfusion dataset, ensuring proper monitoring & traceability of blood, in line with the MHRA UK Statutory Instrument 2005/50 (The Blood Safety & Quality Regulations 2005)

Working through the BSPS Patient Blood Management Team and Committees, review, agree and implement revised Maximum Blood Ordering Schedules (MBOS) and indications for use of all other blood products.

Develop and implement standards and protocols with medical, nursing and other involved staff groups for the indications for the transfusion of all blood components

Support the Consultant Haematologists, the Transfusion Committees, and Transfusion Team to improve the implementation of the policies, guidelines and protocols for the management of patients having blood transfusion

Facilitate the liaison between ward staff and the blood transfusion laboratory so that problems and adverse reactions are reported and dealt with.

Investigate suspected transfusion reactions, adverse events and near misses on behalf of the BSPS Patient Blood Management Team and Committees, take action as necessary, and liaise with the National Blood Service and Serious Hazards of Transfusion / Serious Adverse Blood Reactions and Events Scheme where appropriate.

Actively promote a culture of patient safety, reporting incidents and near misses so practice can be reviewed and improved as necessary. Help to promote an environment where constructive feedback within the team is the norm and lessons are shared.

Provide advice and support to medical and nursing staff in relation to blood transfusion across the Trusts.

The post holder is expected to be able to utilise high levels of interpretation and judgement skills when involved in complicated situations and where a range of options, made up of several components, and the implications of these has to be considered e.g. emergency clinical situations (transfusion reactions, etc); intervening in sub-standard clinical practice; parents refusing to consent for a child to receive a transfusion; policy writing.

The post holder is expected to act as the patient’s advocate in referrals made re the Refusal of Blood, ensuring that the guideline is adhered to and that the patient understands the consequences that may ensue in the event of a life-threatening situation. The post-holder will need to demonstrate exceptional communication skills and knowledge in such circumstances, as they would be communicating highly sensitive, contentious and complicated information e.g. legal, ethical and clinical.

Develop effective relationships with external groups such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses Hospital Liaison Committee in order to ensure knowledge regarding special risk groups is well developed and maintained.

Responsible for implementing cost improvement programmes within scope