P43 Extension of the Hospital Transfusion Team to Include a Transfusion Auditor Improves the Quality of Clinical Transfusion Medicine Whilst Proving Self‐funding in Our Organisation.

The introduction of a local Hospital Transfusion Committee in 1999 allowed the Transfusion Laboratory the opportunity to present levels of red cell use to clinicians. This information was easily obtained from the laboratory information system, and the data presented in the form of league tables by individual Consultant and their medical speciality. Agreement was obtained for the league tables to be published via global electronic mail every quarter, and natural competition contributed to an immediate reduction in red cell use within our organisation. The blood and blood product budget is held by the Transfusion Laboratory, hence the laboratory was able to utilise the financial savings generated by the reduction in red cell use to fund a 0.2 whole time equivalent Transfusion Auditor, based in the Transfusion Laboratory but performing extensive audit on behalf of the Hospital Transfusion Team/Committee. The role has allowed blood use by clinician, anaesthetist, infusion location and diagnosis to be audited, the results being examined by the Hospital Transfusion Committee, and recommendations for change in practice made to the clinicians involved. The process has saved over £500,000 since its introduction, facilitated improved clinical Transfusion Medicine, reduced clinical risk, and funded alternatives to homologous red cell transfusions, near patient testing devices, rapid infuser's and theatre equipment designed to keep patient's warm during major surgery. Concurrently the cost of wastage of red cells and platelets has been reduced from £30,000 per annum in 1999 to £14,630 in 2005. In spite of an 11.5% increase in clinical activity, red cell use in our district general hospital has been reduced by 30% from 13,605 units per annum in 1999 to 9551 in 2005. The Transfusion Auditor post is now established in our organisation and continues to prove self‐funding whilst facilitating improved clinical Transfusion Medicine.