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FOR ACTION
A copy of this letter can be found on the Hospitals & Science Home Page
http://hospital.blood.co.uk/
Date: 27 January 2015
To:
All Transfusion Laboratory Managers and Transfusion Practitioners in
hospitals served by NHSBT Lancaster, Brentwood, Oxford, Southampton and
Plymouth
Dear Colleagues
Industrial Action
29 January 2015
Industrial action has been announced for 29th January with members of UNISON, Unite and
GMB being asked to take part in a 12 hour strike from 09.00 to 21.00.
We understand that the majority of hospitals will endeavour to run all services as normal.
The impact of the industrial action will vary between our centres dependant on the level of
support. Staffside representatives have committed to providing a blue light service as a
minimum which will also cover the urgent transportation of our machines for provision of life
saving therapeutic apheresis services.
We expect little disruption to the provision of routine and ad hoc deliveries from your
local centre.
We suggest that you consider increasing your orders for red cells in advance of this day.
You may also need to consider your holding of platelets to cover acute bleeding including
surgery and trauma and to reduce reliance on deliveries on the day of the strike.
HLA and HPA matched platelets for planned transfusion on Thursday 29th and Friday 30th
should be ordered by 12.00 noon on Wednesday 28th.
The Red Cell Immunohaematology Service will provide urgent investigations and blood
provision, as a minimum equivalent to service levels provided by on-call. They will also
provide support for case triage and hospital communications from RCI medical consultants.
Please do not rely on NHSBT to transport any samples requiring investigation on the day of
industrial action.
Our staff side have given us assurance that they will cover all essential services to protect
urgent patient need. Please contact Hospital Services if you have an urgent request.
NHS Blood and Transplant is a Special Health Authority within the National Health Service
NHSBT Action
1. We aim to supply to all emergency orders
2. On the day of the strike, Hospital Services will be able to advise on local supply and
deliveries.
Hospital Action:
1. Review your stock needs and order in advance where necessary
2. Place advance orders for more specialised components with as much notice as possible.
3. Let our Hospital Services team know immediately if the urgency of any order changes
4. Please contact Hospital Services or your local Customer Service Manager if there is any
restriction on receiving orders in your hospital due to the industrial action
If you have any queries regarding the above, please contact a Customer Service Manager or
Hospital Services Manager. Alternatively please contact the Customer Service Response
Desk on - 0208 2013107 between 08:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday.
Please forward this communication to your Consultant with responsibility for the
transfusion laboratory.
Yours sincerely
Teresa Allen
Assistant Director Customer Services
Email: [email protected]
NHS Blood and Transplant is a Special Health Authority within the National Health Service