Transfusion Practitioner

at  Ashford and St Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The Transfusion Practitioner will provide an advanced level of clinical practice, leadership and development within the specialist field of Transfusion Medicine. Working as part of team for the Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Network.
The position involves training and education of all staff in best practice associated with the transfusion of blood and blood products. A primary function of the role will be to influence senior clinical staff in adopting best practice within the field of transfusion.
The Transfusion Practitioner will be responsible for auditing the transfusion policies and procedures in place and ensuring staff are compliant with training and competency requirements. The practitioner will work closely with the Lead Biomedical Scientist in charge of the Blood Transfusion Laboratories to provide a safe, effective and efficient transfusion service, and minimise wastage and misuse of a limited and costly resource and promote the safe and effective use of blood products. The post holder will act as the link between the Blood Transfusion departments and the service users.
Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond.
Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter’s, Chertsey, Surrey.
We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at Ashford & St Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with our strong commitment to staff health and wellbeing. We are committed to providing continuous professional development, staff benefits and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.
Please see the supporting links which you can find on the right-hand side of this job advert. There is guidance on how to make an application on NHS Jobs as well as more information about joining the ASPH Team
Although it isn’t the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so applicants are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
Clinical or technical
Promote the safe and effective choice and administration of blood components, reducing or eliminating misuse and wastage.
Maintain the minimum blood transfusion dataset, ensuring proper monitoring & traceability of blood, in line with the MHRA UK Statutory Instrument 2005/50 (The Blood Safety & Quality Regulations 2005)
Working through the BSPS Patient Blood Management Team and Committees, review, agree and implement revised Maximum Blood Ordering Schedules (MBOS) and indications for use of all other blood products.
Develop and implement standards and protocols with medical, nursing and other involved staff groups for the indications for the transfusion of all blood components
Support the Consultant Haematologists, the Transfusion Committees, and Transfusion Team to improve the implementation of the policies, guidelines and protocols for the management of patients having blood transfusion
Facilitate the liaison between ward staff and the blood transfusion laboratory so that problems and adverse reactions are reported and dealt with.
Investigate suspected transfusion reactions, adverse events and near misses on behalf of the BSPS Patient Blood Management Team and Committees, take action as necessary, and liaise with the National Blood Service and Serious Hazards of Transfusion / Serious Adverse Blood Reactions and Events Scheme where appropriate.
Actively promote a culture of patient safety, reporting incidents and near misses so practice can be reviewed and improved as necessary. Help to promote an environment where constructive feedback within the team is the norm and lessons are shared.
Provide advice and support to medical and nursing staff in relation to blood transfusion across the Trusts.
The post holder is expected to be able to utilise high levels of interpretation and judgement skills when involved in complicated situations and where a range of options, made up of several components, and the implications of these has to be considered e.g. emergency clinical situations (transfusion reactions, etc); intervening in sub-standard clinical practice; parents refusing to consent for a child to receive a transfusion; policy writing.
The post holder is expected to act as the patient’s advocate in referrals made re the Refusal of Blood, ensuring that the guideline is adhered to and that the patient understands the consequences that may ensue in the event of a life-threatening situation. The post-holder will need to demonstrate exceptional communication skills and knowledge in such circumstances, as they would be communicating highly sensitive, contentious and complicated information e.g. legal, ethical and clinical.
Develop effective relationships with external groups such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses Hospital Liaison Committee in order to ensure knowledge regarding special risk groups is well developed and maintained.
Responsible for implementing cost improvement programmes within scope of practice.
Leadership or managerial
Be a pro-active member of the BSPS Patient Blood management Team and Committees
Lead or aid the investigations of complaints and incidents relevant to blood transfusion.
Work with other staff to develop co-ordinated and comprehensive links throughout the Trusts and across all disciplines to ensure patients receive the care they need at the time they need it.
Communicate and share examples of good practice throughout the Trusts and encourage dissemination of these practices.
Represent the BSPS Patient Blood Management Team and Committees in specialist capacity on key influencing committees and forums e.g. Clinical Governance Committees
The post holder is expected, and has the freedom, to take actions based on own interpretation of broad clinical/professional/administrative policies and guidance, whilst providing advice to the organisation on how these should be interpreted as appropriate. The post holder will have the freedom to initiate actions within broad policies seeking advice as necessary.
The post holder is a core member of the Emergency blood shortage management team and with the team to formulate the long term strategic planning which involves the uncertainty of a sustained supply of blood products in light of EU directive and which will impact across both organisations and to our external users.
The post holder is required to interpret overall health service policy; strategy and law in relation to transfusion practice e.g. Health Service Circulars Better Blood Transfusion, relevant EU Directives, and in conjunction with the Blood Transfusion Committee advise the Trusts on its implications and changes to practice.
To attend local, regional and national meetings and committees relevant to the BT service and duties of the post holder.
Service Delivery
To work with the Lead Transfusion Practitioner, Consultant Specialty Lead and other senior staff to establish a practical and financially feasible strategy for the implementation and maintenance of an integrated delivery of the department’s services in accordance with the Trusts’ current and future service configuration.
To provide discipline specific expertise to support the department’s public relations (PR) initiatives and Trust policies and procedures.
Education & Training
In conjunction with Practice Development staff, Clinical Practice Educators and Medical Directors of Education, to organise/facilitate the development, implementation and maintenance of all health professionals and staff in relation to blood transfusion training, competencies and practice.
To personally deliver or arrange delivery of the training programmes necessary to meet the requirements of guidelines existing at that time to all grades of staff in the Transfusion chain (including doctors, nurses, community staff, staff of private hospitals, porters, drivers, etc).
Maintain and develop presentations, tests, quizzes and other teaching & assessment materials used in the delivery and assessment of the above programmes.
Source the appropriate patient information to enable patients to make an informed choice of care and treatment relating to blood transfusions / products. Promote with staff the need to ensure informed consent for procedures / treatments and that information given and that decisions / consent are recorded
Disseminate work through publications, conferences and local/Network CPD presentations or other educational materials
To be involved in establishing, maintaining and delivery of the Trusts’ Induction and other training programmes
To apply methods which will ensure that all staff in the Transfusion chain (including senior medical/consultant staff) meet the competencies laid out in the National Blood Transfusion Committee Recommendations for Training and Assessment in Blood Transfusion.
The post-holder is expected to develop and maintain thorough, in depth and up to date knowledge and is required to attend study days and courses to enhance and develop the skills and knowledge required to provide the expert service.
Ensure personal and professional development are maintained, and clinical skills are continually renewed and updated in order to provide high quality clinical care and support to patients, nurses, biomedical scientists and doctors in accordance with NMC (nurses) and IBMS (biomedical scientists) guidelines.
To be involved in teaching/training and developing pre-registration nursing students and trainee biomedical scientists.
Using the high level of experience and skills of the post-holder he/she will be expected to provide a formal, confidential support and learning process to individuals (or groups) in order to enable other practitioners to develop competence, assume responsibility for their own practice and enhance consumer protection and safety of care in highly complex situations.
Develop competency assessment tools for each specialist group involved in the transfusion process and implement, audit and further develop the tools used.
Following assessment of the situation the post holder is expected to deliver bespoke remedial training to practitioners from all clinical fields that have been involved in a clinical incident or near miss in relation to transfusion practice.
Clinical effectiveness and quality
Actively promote and implement research and evidence based practice
Ensure patient involvement using patient experience and feedback and continue the amazing work of the Harvey’s Gang Charity. Working with other members of the team(s), ensure changes in practice are implemented from this feedback in order to optimise care.
Carry out pertinent clinical audits, including meeting the National Comparative audit of Transfusion requirements, with other members of the clinical teams. Ensure feedback to other interested parties so lessons learnt and changes in practice made can be shared.
Maintain timely and accurate records, and provide written and verbal reports as required
Produce, analyse and present reports on Blood Transfusion use for a variety of meetings including, the BSPS Patient Blood Management Team and Committees, MHRA, NHSLA, clinical governance and Directorate quarterly review
Using the Trusts Risk Assessment Tools, identify & manage risks, both clinical and non-clinical, ensuring the reporting of significant risks for the Trusts Risk Register

Please refer the Job description for details