To help preserve our blood stocks which have been low for around a year, a new Patient Blood Management section on the Blood Transfusion intranet page contains useful information and links for clinicians, including a checklist written by NHS Blood and Transplant.

Patient blood management (PBM) is an approach to managing and preserving an individual's own blood, by applying best practices for managing anaemia, bleeding and coagulation, as well as alternatives to transfusion.

Research has shown that PBM strategies can reduce the risk of infection, heart attacks, stroke, death, time spent in hospital and the cost of healthcare.

PBM also helps protect the valuable gift of donated blood components and facilitates their appropriate use.