Outpatient transfusion service
Working in collaboration with the haematology and blood transfusion teams at East Cheshire NHS trust, East Cheshire Hospice offers an outpatient transfusion service for people diagnosed with a life limiting illness.
The aim of the service is to facilitate blood transfusions either as a day case or as part of a short inpatient stay (dependant on medical history), providing people with a reliable and friendly service in a relaxing environment.
Easy referral service
Blood transfusions take place Tuesdays-Thursdays between 9am and 5pm at the Hospice, and appointments are subject to availability. Referral to the service is easy; simply complete the referral form which is available to download below.
Complete referral forms should be emailed to cmicb-cheshire.echospicetransfusion@nhs.net. Once the referral is received, one of our Advanced Nurse Practitioners will process the referral and contact the patient.
Please note referrals are reviewed Monday-Friday and we aim to respond within 24hrs of receipt (excluding weekends). Our service is not suitable for those requiring urgent transfusion or for patients who are medically unstable.
Referral criteria
For Specialist Palliative Care Services Blood Transfusion:
- Patient needs to be ambulant and be able to attend to their own hygiene needs with minimal assistance
- Patient needs to attend the Hospice for a planned cross match. A covid-19 test will also be undertaken if an overnight stay is required
- Patient needs to be able to sit in a chair for the day comfortably
- Patient needs to have family member, or a friend stay with them overnight following transfusion
- Patient must have no history of previous blood transfusion reactions
- Please document on the referral form if irradiated blood is required
- Medical History will be carefully considered to make sure that the blood transfusion can be facilitated as safely as possible within the Hospice environment. An overnight stay at the Hospice may be considered for patients with cardiac or renal history or for those needing more than 2 units.
- An overnight stay at the Hospice could be facilitated on a planned basis dependant on bed availability, and on assessment for safety, for patients with a cardiac and renal history or those needing more than 2 units.
- A recent blood test for U+E, LFTS and Hb needs to be documented on the referral form and within 5-7 days of transfusion (inc. albumin and eGFR)
- Patient should be symptomatic with a Hb of less than 80.
