Quality standard
Quality statement 3: Reassessment after red blood cell transfusions
Quality statement 3: Reassessment after red blood cell transfusions
Quality statement
People are clinically reassessed and have their haemoglobin levels checked after each unit of red blood cells they receive, unless they are bleeding or are on a chronic transfusion programme.
Rationale
Clinical reassessment and measurement of haemoglobin levels after each unit of red blood cells transfused helps healthcare professionals to decide whether further transfusions are needed. This helps avoid the serious risks associated with red blood cell transfusions, for example infection, fluid overload and incorrect blood transfusions being given. It may also reduce the length of hospital stays and the cost to the NHS. For children and for adults with low body weight, red blood cell transfusion volumes should be calculated based on body weight.
Quality measures
Structure
a) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that people are clinically reassessed after each unit of red blood cells they receive, unless they are bleeding or are on a chronic transfusion programme.
Data source: Local data collection.
b) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that people have their haemoglobin levels checked after each unit of red blood cells they receive, unless they are bleeding or are on a chronic transfusion programme.
Data source: Local data collection.
Process
a) Proportion of red blood cell transfusions where a clinical reassessment of the person is carried out after each unit of blood transfused, unless they are bleeding or on a chronic transfusion programme.
Numerator – the number in the denominator where a clinical reassessment is carried out after each unit of blood transfused.
Denominator – the number of red blood cell transfusions in people who are not bleeding or on a chronic transfusion programme.
Data source: Local data collection.
b) Proportion of red blood cell transfusions where the haemoglobin level of the person is checked after each unit of blood transfused, unless they are bleeding or on a chronic transfusion programme.
Numerator – the number in the denominator where the haemoglobin level of the person is checked after each unit of blood transfused.
Denominator – the number of red blood cell transfusions in people who are not bleeding or on a chronic transfusion programme.
Data source: Local data collection.
What the quality statement means for different audiences
Service providers (secondary care services) ensure that systems are in place to clinically reassess people and check their haemoglobin levels after each unit of red blood cells transfused, unless they are bleeding or on a chronic transfusion programme.
Healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses and blood transfusion specialists) clinically reassess people and check their haemoglobin levels after each unit of red blood cells transfused, unless they are bleeding or on a chronic transfusion programme.
Commissioners (clinical commissioning groups) commission services that clinically reassess people and check their haemoglobin levels after each unit of blood transfused, unless they are bleeding or on a chronic transfusion programme.
People who have a red blood cell transfusion have an assessment and their haemoglobin levels checked after the transfusion to see if they need another one, unless they are bleeding or need regular blood transfusions.
Source guidance
Blood transfusion. NICE guideline NG24 (2015), recommendations 1.2.1 and 1.2.6
Definitions of terms used in this quality statement
Clinical assessment
This includes:
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asking the person if their anaemia symptoms have resolved
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asking the person about any new symptoms that might indicate an adverse response to transfusion (such as circulatory overload)
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reviewing the vital signs taken before, during and after the transfusion
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any further clinical assessment that could be needed.
[Expert consensus]