This inspection looked at the services provided from the Blood Transfusion Centre based within the ground of Southampton general hospital. As part of our inspection we spoke with eight people who are known as donors, seven staff and senior managers. To help us to understand the donors’ experiences of the service, we observed the care they received throughout their visit.

We found that donors were provided with clear information about blood donation in order to make an informed choice. They were involved in the decision making process and consents were sought and gained throughout the process. Staff provided them with food and fluids and cared for the donors in a sensitive, respectful and professional manner. Other information related to post-donation signs and symptoms to look out for and what to do if they felt unwell.

The staff followed their procedure ensuring the donors were safe and received effective care during and after donation. These included monitoring the donors, observing their infection control procedures, handling and storage of blood products.

There was an internal audit process which was carried out at regular intervals. Incidents and accidents were monitored and an action plan developed to address any adverse incident to prevent re- occurrence. The donors’ views were sought as part of their quality assurance process.