News Release

07 November 2012

NHS Blood and Transplant pilot scheme comes to Royal Bournemouth Hospital

A pilot scheme which could transform the way blood stocks are maintained and delivered in hospitals is being launched at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH) today.

The scheme is being trialled by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), in partnership with three hospitals in the country. Using electronic blood tracking systems already in place in some hospitals the pilot will allow NHSBT to test a new way of working which may:

  • Enable NHSBT to monitor hospital stock levels on a live basis and provide automatic optimum top up deliveries of blood and blood products – ensuring we always have enough to meet our patients needs
  • Enable NHSBT to send an automatic delivery note with all details of the blood stocks being supplied to the RBH, reducing paperwork for hospital staff
  • Lower hospital costs associated with unnecessary deliveries or out dating of blood and blood products, by improving stock control
  • Streamline the donor to patient process with full electronic blood tracking for the first time

Lynda Hamlyn, Chief Executive at NHS Blood and Transplant, said:

"We are delighted to be working in partnership with the RBH. This pilot is intended to demonstrate how two very different NHS organisations, both with the same determination to provide the very best patient care, can work together to improve quality and treatment, whilst still reducing costs to the NHS."

The pilot is the first step of a key part of NHSBT’s five-year strategy to further improve and modernise the blood service by providing an even better service for donors, patients and the NHS.

Tony Spotswood, Chief Executive, at RBH, said:

"We were one of the first NHS hospitals in the country to install electronic blood tracking in 2007. This project is a natural extension of our existing successful system which uses bar-coded patient wristbands, hand held devices and the labelling of patient blood samples. All of these help manage any transfusion in a safe and controlled manner."

Since 2009 NHSBT has made major reductions in its costs - saving the NHS £34m a year - money that can instead be spent on care and treatment for patients.

Ends

For further information, please contact the NHSBT press office on 01923 367600, pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk Out of hours please call 0117 969 2444.

Notes to editors

  • NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority. Its remit includes the provision of a reliable, efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS in England and North Wales. It is also the organ donor organisation for the UK and is responsible for matching and allocating donated organs.
  • The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch NHS Foundation Trust provides health care for the residents of Bournemouth, Christchurch, East Dorset and part of the New Forest with a total population of around 550,000, which rises during the summer months. Some specialist services cover a wider catchment area, including Poole, the Purbecks and South Wiltshire.
  • The first pilot began at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, part of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, in summer 2012.
  • NHSBT’s Integrated Transfusion Service (ITS) Programme consists of three elements:
    1. Stock Management: Working with hospitals to help them to calculate optimum stock levels and to pilot smarter systems for stock replenishment. This could minimise wastage and make the supply chain more efficient. This will include three hospital pilots, and collecting and modelling data from a further ten hospitals. Pilots are expected to be completed by April 2013.
    2. Transfusion Innovation: Developing our Red Cell Immunohaematology (RCI) and testing services to meet the current and future needs of hospital transfusion
    3. NHSBT supply chain optimisation: Improving our internal operations by introducing more integrated supply chain planning and performance management