This inspection only looked at the service provided by the Therapeutic Apheresis Unit. Other regulated activities provided by the Oxford Blood Centre, were not included.

We were able to speak with two patients who were attending the unit for treatment. Patients were referred to the apheresis unit for specialist therapeutic services from other healthcare providers, and discussion had taken place about treatment plans. Both patients said they continued to be involved in making decisions about their treatment and were informed about options. One patient said that they had been given written information about the particular treatment they were to receive. The other patient had been attending the unit for some time and remembered being given information and said they were always involved in decisions about their care.

Patients we spoke with said their expectations were met and they were receiving the treatment that had been explained to them. They commented about the way they were looked after, said they were not kept waiting for their treatment, and the nurses were always welcoming.

The unit was clean tidy and well organised and was cleaned in the evenings when there were no patients receiving treatment. The storage areas were clean and tidy and clinical equipment was clean and appropriately stored. Both patients commented that the clinical and nursing staff who looked after them “provided them with a lot of reassurance” and “were very good at their jobs”.

The inspection looked at the specialist treatment services and blood donation services provided from the centre and one community blood donation session. We checked that the processes for people donating blood (referred to as donors) were safe and that patients received the service that they expected and was safe.

We spoke with two patients who were attending the therapeutic apheresis unit, seven donors, six donor carers, three qualified nurses and other senior managers.

Patients were fully informed about their treatment plans, had consented to the treatment and were well looked after by skilled nurses.

Donors were involved in making decisions to donate and gave consent. They were well looked after during the procedure. The health and welfare of donors was paramount and donors were given post-donation information so knew what to do if they were unwell. There were stringent procedures to ensure that recipients of donated blood were not placed at risk of receiving unsafe products.

There were standard operating procedures for staff to follow in the donation process. Infection prevention and control measures were in place and donation was carried out in premises fit for purpose.

Donors were looked after by donor carers and qualified nurses who were well trained and supported to do their job. NHS Blood and Transplant had robust measures in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service and used donor feedback to review and amend service delivery.