The Western Cape Blood Service has recently entered into Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with private hospitals and healthcare facilities that transfuse blood and blood products. Historically, an SLA only existed with the Western Cape Department of Health.
The SLAs define the expectations of WCBS, healthcare facilities and hospitals in relation to the provision and safe transfusion of blood and blood products. In order to maintain continuous improvement of patient safety before, during and after blood transfusion, SLAs are reviewed periodically and revised when required.
The SLAs include the appointment of a designated Blood Bank per hospital/healthcare facility, Blood Bank services and operating hours, agreed Blood Bank turnaround times (TATs), management of emergency Blood Banks, temperatures of blood products in transit, and transportation of blood between the hospitals and healthcare facilities and a designated Blood Bank.
We take this opportunity to thank the hospitals and healthcare facilities for maintaining mutually beneficial working relationships with WCBS.
For more information about the SLAs, contact Meridah Mwase, Head – Blood Banks (Meridah.Mwase@wcbs.org.za).
