STOP the WASTE! 2014/2015 Your details here

Overview Campaign – National Blood Authority What is wastage? What will you see across your hospital? Why focus on waste? Are we paying for blood? Do we waste much? Why? What can I do? What is our hospital doing? Questions

Campaign running Dec Jan 2015 Blood is a precious resource generously donated by volunteers. Blood and blood products are used in hospitals across Australia every day to save lives. Unfortunately, thousands of units are needlessly discarded every year. To assist in addressing blood and blood product wastage, a range of promotional material for laboratory staff, transfusion nurses and those with an interest in wastage reduction have been produced.

National Blood Authority

What is wastage? A certain level of discards of blood and blood products is both inevitable and appropriate to ensure that products are available where and when they are clinically necessary. However, there is a proportion of discards of blood and blood products that is neither inevitable nor appropriate which is defined as wastage

What will you see around your hospital? Posters Tags attached to random bags of blood Magnets for your fridge or whiteboard Mini Wheelie Bins – lollies or pens? Newsletter article (example articles are available from Eastern Health Transfusion Nurses) Intranet banner

Why do we need to focus on waste? Australia relies on voluntary donation for it’s blood supply and we need to ensure these donations are utilised appropriately and not wasted unnecessarily. The Hospital Transfusion Committee – focuses on ensuring the safe and appropriate use of blood and blood products but it is also tasked with monitoring and addressing wastage.

National Standards – NSQHSS Standard 7 Minimisation of the wastage of blood and blood products is a key requirement

Wastage Reduction Strategy Blood components supplied by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service included a cost indicator printed on the blood bag label – Whilst blood donation is voluntary, the collection, processing, testing and distribution of blood and blood products incur significant costs. The aim of this NBA initiative is to increase health provider awareness and appreciation of the costs associated with the provision of blood and blood products within Australia. It also supports awareness that blood is a precious resource given generously by donors.

Blood Labels Costs of Blood Currently we don’t pay for blood in Victoria There may be focus on wastage costs Watch this space

Do we waste much at your hospital? Your Hospital Wastage Data is collected via……. Add a graph of your hospital wastage per product per month against State and National wastage rates

Why do we waste blood? Possibly avoidable – Examples: not indicated in the first place, FFP defrosted but not required, incorrect storage on ward, delays Unavoidable – Examples: massive transfusions, urgent, time critical Reported to VHIMS / hospital reporting system

Example of hospital specific cases of wastage and what you can do to minimise this Use your adverse event reporting system to gather specific details

What can I do? Avoid unnecessary delays Know WHO you are transfusing – ensure you have the correct patient/required documentation before you send for the blood Know WHY you are transfusing – is this indication appropriate? Know WHEN and WHERE you need to transfuse – will the patient be moving, what else is happening in the clinical area, are you ready to send for the blood? Know WHAT you are transfusing – are there any special considerations with this blood product (blood warmers, IV lines, temperature requirements…)

Resources Add examples of any hospital specific resources in use at your Health Service

What has your hospital done to try and reduce wastage? List some of examples from your hospital Eg: – 30 min 4 hour info sheet – wastage due to misunderstanding of storage times. – Looking at platelet return to inventory after 24 hours if not transfused. – Appropriateness audits – since 2003 – Education sessions – patient blood management guidelines, wastage. Resources – Blood Matters webpage, links to NBA, single unit transfusion.

Questions? Add your contact details here