Chief Medical Scientist Blood Bank

at  Mercy University Hospital

CHIEF MEDICAL SCIENTIST BLOOD BANK

• Ensure the Laboratory operates in accordance with the highest quality and safety of service that is appropriate within the MUH budgetary constraints.
• Lead and develop an effective and efficient Laboratory Service, in line with good practice including development and evaluation of operational policies to maximise utilisation of resources.
• Monitor research and developments including adoption of new process/technologies as appropriate.
• Work within a total quality management framework and legislative/regulatory requirements as defined in the ISO 15189, other associated INAB guideline documents and other Government and EU Directives as required.
• Develop a shared sense of commitment, participation, and ownership amongst staff in planning and development of this specialist area and reviewing manpower requirements to ensure optimal effective use of staff through efficient rostering, skills/grades mix, planning, workload monitoring and staff development consistent with delivery of optimal service and good practice.
• Cooperate with the Laboratory Manager, Consultants, other Department leads, and Service Users within a broader pathology and hospital environment to ensure the service provided matches user requirements and supports the clinical needs of the patient.
• Fully support and actively encourage all staff members to participate in any out of hours working arrangements that may be required by the MUH.
• Ensure regular proficiency testing and audit of departmental functions and manage validation of new technologies and processes and participate in MUH internal audit programme, inspection by competent authorities/accreditation bodies and external suppliers as appropriate.
• Ensure optimal use of IT and other operational support systems.
• Ensure that best practise standards are in operation and that regular monitoring is undertaken through audit.
• Implement a quality management programme and participate, lead and direct, as appropriate, a Laboratory Accreditation Strategy approved by the hospital/board.
• Maintain good collaborative working relationships and communications with appropriate statutory, professional and voluntary organisations responsible for and/or participating in health care
• Ensure adherence to all codes and guidelines relating to professional practice.
• Monitor research and new developments and encourage adoption of new ideas/technology throughout the hospital.
• Initiate, facilitate and take part in the relevant research and promote awareness of ongoing and current research.
• Ensure compliance with all legislation.

• Ensure a Transfusion Surveillance Service is in place for the Mercy University Hospital, based within the Department of Blood Transfusion
• Ensure guidelines are implemented for the usage of blood components as developed by the transfusion committee/leading national and international bodies i.e., BSH.
• Promote and facilitate adherence to best practice in all aspects of Transfusion practice,
• Ensure a close liaison between Haemovigilance and the Blood Transfusion Laboratory in investigating all reports of transfusion reactions/incidents and report adverse blood transfusion reactions to the Transfusion Consultant Haematologist and the National Haemovigilance Office and audit of same as per the NHO guidelines.
• Adhere to the responsibilities of directive 2002/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27th January 2020
• Ensure that post Transfusion look back and product tracing and recalls procedures are adhered to.
• Ensure that Haemovigilance collect and collate clinical and laboratory data on transfusions that can be used for the formulation and updating of recommended, maximum blood order schedules (MBOS) and cross match /transfusion ratios.
• Ensure that Haemovigilance report accidents, incidents, and complaints relating to ward/clinical activity in relation to transfusion practices to relevant authorities usually the Consultant Haematologist /Line Manager in accordance with the laboratory quality management system
• Ensure that Haemovigilance report clinical incidents and ’Near Miss Incidents’ to the Risk Manager and SAEs/SARs to the National Haemovigilance office as per the national guidelines.
• Ensure Haemovigilance liaise closely with Blood Transfusion Laboratory staff to maintain good interdisciplinary working relationships with all staff.
• Ensure that the Haemovigilance department develop and review SOPs to meet the requirements of ISO 15189, INAB guidelines and the AML-BB regulations.
• Ensure that the Haemovigilance department assist with multidisciplinary team in ensuring traceability of all blood and blood products laid down by EU Directives 2002/98/EC and 2004/23/EC
• Ensure that the Haemovigilance department provide reports on Blood Transfusion Committee and organization of Hospital Transfusion Committee Meetings
• Ensure that the Haemovigilance department organise and participate in Blood Transfusion departmental meeting and attend managerial and clinical meetings as required.
• Support Haemovigilance education and training.
• Support Haemovigilance audit and research projects
• Support in the identification and development of Haemovigilance Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which are congruent with the Hospital’s service plan targets.
• Support the development of action Plans to address Haemovigilance KPI targets.