A message from Dr Anu Rajgopal, Consultant Microbiologist and Chair of the Hospital Transfusion Committee

Thank you for all your support in maintaining our blood stocks. Nationally, the focus now is to maintain sufficient donation to meet demand as we move toward Christmas. Please use this link to see how and where you can help by donating blood - Home - NHS Blood Donation

Can I request that we continue to follow the actions as detailed below to help improve blood stocks :

• Use of tranexamic acid prior to major surgery
• Appropriate treatment of iron deficiency anaemia with oral or intravenous iron
• Appropriate treatment of vitamin B12/folate deficiencies 
• Do not proceed with major, deferrable surgery in patients with anaemia until it has been properly diagnosed and treated
• Single unit red cell transfusions, so check before giving a second unit of blood unless actively bleeding or on a transfusion programme.
• Use a restrictive red cell transfusion threshold, haemoglobin of 70 g/L unless patient is bleeding, has acute coronary syndrome, or is on a chronic transfusion programme
• Minimise iatrogenic anaemia, take samples from patients only if this will change clinical management.