Advanced practice

The Framework to support Nurses and Midwives Making the Clinical Decision and Providing the Written Instruction for Blood Component Transfusion, was published by Jan Green and Liz Pirie in 2009. In the 12 years following publication, changing patient needs and expectations meant it has become necessary and appropriate for other healthcare professionals (HCPs) to be able to authorise blood components as well. Therefore, in 2021, the United Kingdom and Ireland Blood Transfusion Network (UK&IBTN) commenced a revision of this framework to reflect current service needs.

The framework is available on the JPAC website here

A new SNBTS TT “Non-Medical Authorisation of Blood Components Course” is currently under development, in line with the new framework above. It consists of theoretical and competency-based reflective learning objectives, with the requirement to complete a portfolio of evidence prior to local competency sign-off.

Your local transfusion practitioner will be able to give you more information about the programme in your NHS board.