January 2022 – safety alert from MHRA/CMO regarding deaths where there was a delay in providing emergency transfusion.

Should be agreed criteria for rapid concessionary release of blood products.

One issue is Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, where the presence of red cell antibodies will complicate cross matching (11% mortality!).

Another issue highlighted is failure to give Prothrombin complex concentrate to reverse warfarin (and some other anticoagulants) where severe or limb/sight threatening bleeding.