Transfusion 2024 Review Progress

These recommendations are accepted in principle by the UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive. Recommendation 7b) is accepted in full by the Scottish Government. Parts of these recommendations are being taken forward on a UK wide basis. Progress against Transfusion 2024 recommendations has been initially reviewed jointly by NHS England and NHSBT and a wider four nations stakeholder review is being scheduled. The draft report was discussed with key stakeholders at the end of November 2024 with further input underway in April/May 2025, and finalisation of the full report during the first quarter of 2025/26. Key aspects have been incorporated into the Transfusion Transformation Strategy (TTS). The TTS is focusing on the next 5-10 years, amalgamating progress, learnings and future ambition in this area. Sub-recommendations from the working group on recommendation 7 are expected to be incorporated into the TTS, to provide a coherent future forward implementation plan for blood transfusion practices. This includes the potential creation of a National Blood Transfusion Board to improve national governance and delivery oversight across the complex system. Substantial funding will be required to design and deliver a transfusion transformation programme.

In relation to recommendation 7(b), Lorna reported that there is an internal SNBTS transfusion plan. It was agreed at the previous OAG that any Scotland-wide transfusion strategy should be progressed via Board Chief Executive Officers (CEOs). This is currently paused while a new Chief Executive for Public Services Delivery Scotland is onboarded.