The Royal College of Pathologists in the United Kingdom recently published their annual report for 2024 on the Serious Hazards of Transfusions (SHOT). Approximately 2.2 million blood components were issued in the U.K. in 2024, and the risk of serious harm from a transfusion was 1 in 11,500 components issued. The total number of reports analyzed in 2024 was 3,998—similar to the total in 2023. No cases of transfusion-transmitted infections were reported in 2024. Alarmingly, the number of deaths from transfusions, however, increased significantly from 38 deaths in 2023 to 59 deaths in 2024, mainly due to pulmonary complications such as TACO (n=31) and transfusion delays (n=18). From 2023 to 2024, the total number of delayed transfusions increased by a third to 312 and the number of deaths doubled. Miscommunication was the most cited reason for delayed transfusions. Errors accounted for 83% of all reports (3322/3998), the majority of which were preventable. The Royal College of Pathologists stresses that the transfusion community needs to address transfusion errors and delays by ensuring teams are well-resourced with adequate staffing, training, and supervision. They have also made a baseline assessment tool and compliance check for transfusion safely standards to assist transfusion teams identify risks and monitor progress.
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