Blood stock levels monitored round-the-clock with new pilot scheme (From Bournemouth Echo)

Blood stock levels monitored round-the-clock with new pilot scheme

4:00pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in News By Nicky Findley

A PILOT scheme to transform the way blood stocks are maintained and delivered is now up and running at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

The scheme will enable NHS Blood and Transplant to monitor stock levels on a 24/7 basis using electronic blood tracking systems already in place at the hospital.

Not only will it ensure optimum top up deliveries of blood products, it will also lower costs, improve stock control and provide a more streamlined process from donor to patient.

Lynda Hamlyn, chief executive at NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), who visited the Bournemouth hospital last week, said: “It’s wonderful to see first-hand how the pilot scheme is working.

“A lot of time and effort has been put in by both NHSBT staff and those at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital to get this fully functioning.

“This pilot demonstrates how two very different NHS organisations, both with the same determination to provide the very best patient care, can work together to improve quality and treatment, while still reducing costs to the NHS.”

The pilot is the first step of a key part of NHSBT’s five-year strategy to further improve and modernise the blood service for donors, patients and the NHS.

Tony Spotswood, chief executive of the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This project is a natural extension of our existing successful system which uses bar-coded patient wristbands, hand-held devices and the labelling of patient blood samples.

“The scheme is cost-efficient but most importantly will improve patient care, which is a key priority for us.”

Since 2009, NHSBT has made major reductions in its costs – saving the NHS £34m a year – money that can be spent on care and treatment.