Our team is committed to evaluating the findings from research to identify ways to improve transfusion services. We also aim to make good use of new technology to improve services.
Transfusion
Informing health professionals
Some of our research involves reviewing all the research evidence available on a particular topic, and then producing a summary of the conclusions to inform practice (this is called a systematic review).
We have also developed an online database, the Transfusion Evidence Library, which includes information from all the systematic reviews and clinical trials relating to transfusion, that have been carried out all over the world. This resource provides up-to-date information for health professionals, so they can easily access the evidence that supports best practice.
Clinical Trials
The team has led many clinical trials which evaluate the best way to treat patients with transfusion therapies. These include trials looking at the optimal way to transfuse red blood cells, platelets, whole blood and fibrinogen replacement. More information on our ongoing, and recently completed, trials can be found here: Home - Clinical Trials Unit - NHS Blood and Transplant
ELECTRONIC BLOOD ORDERING
We have developed a paperless system to support clinicians in deciding when to transfuse a patient, based on the patient’s health status and blood counts. It can also be used to order blood products. The system has been integrated with the electronic processes for blood sampling, blood collection, remote blood issue and blood administration, and has been introduced throughout Oxfordshire’s acute NHS hospitals. These new processes have been endorsed by NHS QIPP (Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention), and the team have won numerous national awards for this work.