In the newsletter you will be able to find information regarding Blood 2018, updates from the standing committees, and an excerpt from an interview with new life member recipient Dr Merrole Cole-Sinclair, as well as recent published literature by our members.
You can read the newsletter ANZSBT newsletter May 2018
2017 Awards & Grants recipients are now listed on the website. Over the coming months we will highlight their award winning work. Read the interviews here…
This article summarises daratumumab’s effects on pre-transfusion immunohaematology testing and its impact on clinical practice and makes practical recommendations based on a consensus from medical and scientific transfusion experts and myeloma specialists on behalf of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion and Myeloma Scientific Advisory Group to Myeloma Australia, respectively.
You can link to the article here, or download from our ANZSBT Position & Consensus Statements page.
The authors state that if transfusion transmission of sCJD occurs at all, it is very rare. Four cases of apparent vCJD transfusion transmission have occurred in the UK. At least some precautionary measures will remain in place and continued surveillence is necessary. The article discusses epidemiology; the vCJD epidemic; transfusion transmission; blood safety response and efficacy of risk mitigation strategies; vCJD donor screening and unanswered questions and future directions.
You can read the article here…
The Patient Blood Management (PBM) Guidelines are a series of six modules that focus on evidence-based PBM. Each module has been written for clinicians treating specific patient groups including Critical Bleeding/ Massive Transfusion (2011), Perioperative (2012), Medical (2012), Critical Care (2012), Obstetrics and Maternity (2015), and Neonatal and Paediatrics (2016).
The National Blood Authority (NBA) has commenced a review of the PBM Guidelines. The review is being undertaken across the suite of modules. The original modules remain available to guide practice.
Now that the suite of modules has been completed, the NBA has turned its attention to maintaining their currency. The NBA is considering a broader scope for the review and update process across the entire suite of modules rather than updating each module in isolation.
Please refer to the Patient Blood Management Guidelines progress update which is now available on the National Blood Authority website http://www.blood.gov.au/pbm-guidelines-updates
Any questions from ANZSBT members about these updates should be sent to guidelines@blood.gov.au
The transfusion practitioner, working in a multidisciplinary capacity across different organizational levels, clinical specialties, and in a variety of environments, is often seen as the driving force for change in areas affecting blood transfusion and PBM. This multidisciplinary approach supports improved patient outcomes in transfusion and PBM.
Bielby L, Haberfield A, Kelsey G, Kay, S. The role of the transfusion practitioner in the multidisciplinary team. VOXS. 2018 (Online version) doi:10.1111/voxs.12408
Read a summary of HAA 2017, find out what’s happening around Australia and New Zealand and determine if you are ready for ISBT128 labelling.
The Summer Newsletter is available on the Special Interest Group page.
On Friday 21st July nearly 200 people, including devoted family members, supported by friends and colleagues, farewelled Ken Davis in the tranquil setting of Partridge House in Adelaide. Ken, a highly respected Scottish-born gentleman contributed so much to laboratory medicine, transfusion science and patient blood management in Australia. Ken was born in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland. He graduated as a fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (UK) in 1969 majoring in haematology, blood transfusion and microbiology.
Ken originally came to Australia in 1975 with his wife, Cate, a trained nurse. He was soon into haematology and transfusion medicine as a scientific officer in charge at the IMVS Modbury Hospital branch pathology. After a brief return to his homeland, he and Cate decided Australia was to be their homeland and, like many Scots, they would become passionate about Australia and they worked hard to contribute to the life and development of the nation. To ensure he became infused with the spirit of Oz Ken worked as chief medical technologist and laboratory manager in Coonabarabran, NSW before accepting, in 1979, his main career position as head of transfusion medicine at the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he worked until his retirement in 2012. Becoming an Australian citizen on 26 July 1995 he confirmed his commitment to being an “Aussie” for the next 22 years, on the condition that he did not have to relinquish his Scottish accent. Thankfully, he never did.
Ken made an enormous contribution to the field of transfusion medicine over an extended period, particularly through his involvement with the Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion. He was member of Council for 12 years, being President (2003-2007), Honorary Secretary and on several other committees. Ken was passionate about improving patient safety though development of clinical guidelines, introducing clinical practice improvements and furthering learning. Ken was widely respected for his knowledge and expertise as well as for his personal characteristics of kindness, professionalism and decency. He was honoured by the Society with the Ruth Sanger Oration and Medal (2012), the Peter Schiff Award (2009) and Life Membership.
Ken held various advisory positions with Australian Red Cross Blood Service and South Australian User Groups. He also advised South Australian Health though the Blood Management Council and The Blood Sector Advisory Committee.
Ken being appointed to Membership of the Order of Australia in 2016, was not only an honour that he and his family cherished, but a confirmation that he fulfilled his life-long ambition to make significant contributions to medical science in Australia. To many at the celebration of Ken’s life, him leaving us on the 16th July 2017, the 48th anniversary of the successful Apollo 11 mission to the moon landing on the 20th July, seemed so appropriate.
It is not surprising that Ken achieved so much, in view of his personal characteristics and skills. You could only like Ken, with his quiet manner, meticulousness, firmness and high emotional intelligence. Ken was a communicator par excellence, a problem identifier and committed problem solver and a born teacher/mentor.
Restructuring of the blood sector in Australia, following the Stevens Review, with the setting up of the National Blood Authority in 2003 was a major event that positioned Australia to better integrate transfusion medicine and patient blood management. Ken was one of the first laboratory scientists to see a vision for the future and the many ways forward. The HAA 2003 annual scientific meeting was a critical event in Adelaide at which ANZSBT, with Ken as President, progressed patient blood management onto the national agenda. In so doing ANZSBT was rejuvenated as the key professional society in transfusion medicine and an expanding membership encompassing, laboratory science, medicine, apheresis and nursing. In some ways the rest is history.
Australia now has an international profile in patient blood management and the integration of the blood sector with an appropriate focus on both the patient and the blood donor. Ken was a member of Steering Committees and Working Groups of the National Blood Authority from 2006-2014 in the development of the national patient blood management guidelines. Ken was a key initiator in achieving the inclusion of transfusion medicine into hospital accreditation and ultimately into the current National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards for hospital accreditation under Standard 7.
Ken, a true gentleman, will be sadly missed, but not forgotten. His legacy will remain with us through his family, friends, colleagues and students. Blood donors and patients have much to thank “behind the scenes Ken” for ensuring that the gift of altruistically donated blood is used safely and appropriately for the benefit of patients. Thank you Ken from us all. Ken leaves his loving wife Cate, daughter Lynne, son Kevin and three grandchildren, Tyler, Gemma & Zara.
James Isbister, Anne Fletcher and David Roxby
The Western Australia Department of Health comprehensive health-system-wide Patient Blood Management (PBM) program has demonstrated improved patient outcomes and reduced costs. Results from four major adult tertiary care hospitals show a 28% reduction in hospital mortality, a 15% reduction in average hospital length of stay, a 21% decrease in hospital-acquired infections and a 31% decrease in the incidence of heart attack or stroke. The use of blood products was reduced by 41% during the study period.
Read the study here and listen to the ABC Health Report: Better blood transfusions about the program here.