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Transfusion practice: prescription for change

In the wake of recent developments in the area of nurse prescribing of blood components, Pathology in Practice recently talked to two leading nurse professionals at the forefront of this initiative. At last year’s British Blood Transfusion Society (BBTS) Annual Scientific Meeting in Manchester, Liz Pirie and Jan Green launched the much-awaited framework document outlining guidance for nurses and midwives wishing to extend their role to prescribe blood components for transfusion.

According to former IBMS transfusion science specialist advisor Joan Jones, there are many benefits to patients from nurse-led transfusion care she outlines. “Nurse prescribing of blood components has the potential greatly to improve the patient experience. The framework document provides robust governance to help ensure that those nurses and midwives who wish to undertake this role practise safely. It is hoped that biomedical scientists in particular will embrace this opportunity of being key enablers in helping their nursing colleagues extend their roles within this field.”  

To further understand the background to this development, Pathology in Practice spoke recently to both Liz and Jan to gain greater insight into the initiative and its likely impact on the transfusion profession.
 Jan Green is an experienced haematology nurse who has worked for the NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) transfusion liaison team for the past six years. Jan’s role entails supporting the initiatives of the Better Blood Transfusion Health Service Circulars, thereby promoting the safe and appropriate use of blood. Additionally, Jan supports hospitals with information, facilitates local study days and arranges regional education events and transfusion meetings. Jan sees herself as a conduit for information between transfusion practitioners, the blood service and the regional blood transfusion committee.

Liz Pirie is transfusion education specialist and team leader with the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) Better Blood Transfusion team. Liz has a varied clinical background with experience in vascular surgery, intensive care, haematology and infection control. Liz also supports initiatives aimed at driving forward improvements in safe and appropriate use of blood, a role within which she also has special responsibility for the development of education resources for transfusion.

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