Overview
This quality standard covers blood transfusion and reducing the requirements for blood transfusion in adults, young people and children aged 1 year and over. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement. It does not cover use of tranexamic acid for surgery during pregnancy or labour or blood transfusion during pregnancy or labour.
Last reviewed: 26 February 2026
The population in quality statement 2 on tranexamic acid for adults having surgery in an operating theatre has been amended to align with the updated NICE guideline on blood transfusion. See update information for more details.
How to use NICE quality standards and how we develop them
Quality standards help you improve the quality of care you provide or commission. They apply in England and Wales (see the UK government website and Welsh government website). Decisions on how they apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland are made by ministers in the Scottish government and Northern Ireland Executive.
Find out how to use quality standards and how we develop them.
Endorsing bodies
This quality standard is endorsed by NHS England as required by the Health and Social Care Act (2012).
Supporting organisations
A number of organisations recognise the benefit of this quality standard in improving care. They work with us to promote it to commissioners and service providers: