Authorisation of blood components by Non-Medical Authorisers
GGC - Blood Transfusion
The authorisation of blood components by Non-Medical Authorisers Policy available here
This policy document is to give guidance on the implementation of Non-Medical Authorisation practices within clinical areas of NHS GGC. The SOP is to support HCP’s in your area to deliver blood authorisation to patients within a defined criteria. The SOP should only be used in conjunction with the Policy for the authorisation of blood components by Non-Medical Authorisers and the United Kingdom and Ireland Blood Transfusion Network (UK&I BTN) Framework 2022 (Clinical Decision-Making and Authorising Blood Component Transfusion) and the supporting documents produced by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS).
Each clinical area wishing to implement the non-Medical Authorisation (NMA) of blood components must identify a service need and complete the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) template for their clinical area. The clinical lead in conjunction with the senior nursing team is responsible for ensuring that any service change would be in the best interest of the patients being cared for in the clinical area of practice. Board wide audits will be undertaken on authorisation of blood components co-ordinated by the Overarching Transfusion Committee.
The clinician should involve key stakeholders in discussions on the identified service need and value to patient care, to enable the development of an organisational structure to support non-medical authorisation in clinical practice. This decision should be guided by risk versus benefit with consideration of alternative treatments. Please see Blood Transfusion NICE algorithm (NG 24). It is expected that NMAs will only authorise blood within their own clinical practice and clinical competency, remaining within their scope of practice.
Please also refer to related transfusion policies & guidelines including -: