Blood and blood product management
All Australian governments share responsibility for the funding, management, and arrangements for the supply of blood and blood products. Products are supplied free of charge to patients in both the public and private sectors.
These responsibilities are coordinated by the National Blood Authority, in line with the National Blood Authority Act 2003 and the National Blood Agreement, to which all states and territories are signatories.
Read more about the national governance and committees.
Queensland's responsibilities
The 2010 Australian Health Ministers' Conference (AHMC) Statement on National Stewardship Expectations for the Supply of Blood and Blood Products outlines the expectations for the responsible, sustainable and appropriate use of blood and blood products.
The statement sets out blood stewardship principles that address:
- clinically appropriate use of blood products in accordance with relevant professional guidelines and standards
- informed patient consent
- processes, programs, and facilities to minimise blood product wastage
- accreditation with appropriate bodies to meet all quality and safety obligations
- collection and management of transfusion-related adverse event information according to jurisdictional requirements
- ordering and receipt verification processes that support financial accountability
- regular and timely inventory data to support supply and demand planning.
Health providers are expected to implement the stewardship statement.
This includes both Hospital and Health Services and licensed private health facilities that administer blood and blood products.
Patient blood management
Patient blood management supports the safe, appropriate and effective use of blood and blood products.
The three pillars of blood management are:
- optimisation of blood volume and red cell mass prior to surgical or medical intervention
- minimisation of blood loss
- optimisation of patient's tolerance of anaemia.
Hospitals are required to implement Patient Blood Management approaches as a part of their accreditation, under the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.
The Blood Management Standard (Standard 7) describes the systems and processes required to ensure safe blood management, including patient blood management and managing blood and blood products.
Resources
The National Blood Authority provides patient blood management guidelines and resources for health professionals.
Queensland Health provides consent forms and patient information for patients undergoing blood transfusions, including information about the procedure, associated risks and possible alternatives:
- Blood and/or Manufactured Blood Products Transfusion (Full/Limited Consent) – Adult (PDF 3652 kB)
- Blood and/or Manufactured Blood Products Transfusion (Refusal to Consent) - Adult (PDF 3478 kB)
- Transfusion Consent: Fresh and/or Manufactured Blood Products (Full or Limited Consent) – Child/Young Person (PDF 2943 kB)
- Transfusion Consent: Fresh and/or Manufactured Blood Products (Refusal to Consent) – Child/Young Person (PDF 2928 kB)
Contingency plans
The National Blood Authority maintains the National Blood Supply Contingency Plan, which supports a rapid national response to threats affecting the supply of blood and blood products.
The Queensland Blood Supply Emergency and Contingency Plan (PDF 323 kB) links to the National Plan. It details the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders at state level and identifies when local blood supply contingency plans need to be implemented.
More information
Strategy and Service Transformation Team
Service Integration and Biomedical Technology Branch
Clinical Support Queensland
Queensland Health
Level 3, 15 Butterfield St, Herston Qld 4006
Phone: 07 2100 9388
Email: SST@health.qld.gov.au