Hi all,

Can I have your opinions/policies regarding the following please?

We currently have 15 members of the on call rota, 12 of these are not transfusion staff. Therefore we only get 2 sessions a month and sometimes wont be performing any serology for weeks.

Everyone does have to do 10 days in here per annum.

More people want to join the rota and the pathology manager thinks this is a great idea.

I am concerned that, especially the ones new to transfusion, won't be particularly competent with that level of experience.

Thanks,

Rich

I would be absolutely terrified, especially as a patient.

Sadly, the figures you quote are quoted in the UK Transfusion Laboratory Collaborative: minimum standards for staff qualifications, training, competency and the use of information technology in hospital transfusion laboratories 2014, which are recognised by such people as UKAS and the MHRA.

These standards are in the process of being rewritten (for a short time, I was the IBMS representative on the group, so I know this for a fact), and I am hoping, for the sake of everyone, that these figures are tightened up.  In the meantime, expect either an increase in the number of telephone calls you get for help when you are officially off duty and/or more reports to SHOT!

In the USA, there is an extreme shortage of techs that are blood bank competent. The ones who are are working regular overtime to fill in the shifts to provide 24/7 coverage. They are normally working at least two jobs. The field is facing a crisis as these techs who are qualified are now retiring. We just lost two of our best this year and are struggling to keep the younger, promising techs in the field. I'm afraid you won't really have a choice soon. You will have to take what you can get tech-wise and train them as best you can.