BloodSafe
BloodSafe Program - coordinates a safety and quality for blood transfusion practice to improve patient outcomes and ensure our blood supply
Blood management
Blood and blood products include:
- fresh products such as whole blood, red cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate and cryo-depleted plasma
- plasma-derived products such as albumin, immunoglobulins and clotting factors
- recombinant (manufactured) products such as clotting factors
- diagnostic reagent products for laboratory testing and screening.
Funding
Under national arrangements, blood and blood products are jointly funded by the States and Territories (37%) and the Commonwealth (63%) under a cost share arrangement. Products are supplied, free of charge, to patients in both the public and private sectors.
Comprehensive blood management program
A comprehensive blood management program includes policies, guidelines and criteria around all aspects of blood supply and administration. The underlying principles are:
- patient centred – minimising patient exposure to unnecessary transfusion;
- community centred – minimising the impost on blood donors; and
- health sector cost focussed – minimising the cost to the public purse.
SA Blood Supply Contingency Plan
The South Australian Blood Supply Contingency Plan provides a state-wide framework for blood and blood product supply emergencies and shortages in South Australia. The plan is designed to align with the National Blood Supply Contingency Plan as well as Emergency Blood Management Plans that are developed by local hospitals, pathology providers and the state-wide pre-hospital retrieval service.
BloodSafe
The BloodSafe program is a blood transfusion safety and quality improvement collaborative between SA Health, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, SA public and private hospitals and their transfusion service providers. Information and contacts is available on the BloodSafe web page.
Clinicians working with blood and blood products
Key information has been prepared to assist all clinicians working with blood and blood products. A list of quick links can be found here, while further information is also available for specific topics: