Training in Transfusion Medicine

UK Government

The stakeholder group, including a range of professional and statutory bodies, have been working together to review and propose educational and training requirements. The group is currently collating patient safety e-learning material to provide a four nation mapping document for patient safety e-learning material. Curricula for medical, scientific, and nursing / allied health professional staff are undergoing review to determine future provision and recommended practices. Funding will be required to address training gaps and to establish practice educators to ensure future sustainability.

Scottish Government

In relation to recommendation 7d) (along with recommendation 3), a separate Scottish working group is now in place to take forward the work. This will complement the work being done by the UK-wide stakeholder group, but focus on particular actions needed to be delivered in Scotland.

Welsh Government

On 7d), The BHNOG Education Strategy Group has been established to provide governance and oversight of transfusion education across Wales. Through this group and in conjunction with key stakeholders such as Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), Welsh Blood Service and other NHS organisations in Wales, the process of formally reviewing training procedures and agreeing the strategy for transfusion education for all staff involved with the transfusion process in a standardised, equitable manner across Wales and will build upon already embedded programmes of education. A pilot programme for Foundation Doctors has been developed with planned implementation from Autumn cohort 2025. Exploratory work in progress to support mandatory transfusion e-learning for all staff involved in the transfusion process. Work is ongoing in liaison with HEIW and Cwm Taf University Health Board to secure an additional postgraduate training post in Haematology that would rotate into WBS to enhance transfusion knowledge in Wales.

Northern Ireland Executive

NIBTS, NITCE and the NI Medical & Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA) represent Northern Ireland at an established National Working group, which is taking forward the requirements around Recommendation 7a), b) and d). The NITC has also been a member of the UK & Ireland Better Transfusion Network for many years, and all national training for safer blood transfusion comes through this group.

Available HSC training modules are currently being updated, but there has been significant compliance with national training among postgraduate nursing and medical staff (including bank and locums), and NITC provides training for medical students at Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster.