We manage the National Stewardship Program. The program aims to identify, develop and support ways for jurisdictions and Australian Health Providers (AHPs) to:
- reduce wastage through improved AHP's inventory management of blood and blood products
- implement patient blood management (PBM) to improve the appropriate use of blood and blood products by AHPs.
The program is supported by the:
A program for the National Stewardship Statement
The program supports you in implementing the requirements of the Australian Health Ministers’ Statement on National Stewardship Expectations on the Supply of Blood and Blood Products.
The Stewardship Statement was issued by the Commonwealth, state and territory health ministers in 2010. It outlines the measures the health ministers expect you to adopt for better:
- blood product management
- patient blood management
- risk management
- transfusion-related adverse event reporting.
The statement says that blood should be managed in ways that ensure:
- all blood products are used in a clinically appropriate manner in accord with relevant professional guidelines and standards
- informed patient consent procedures are implemented for all patients
- processes, programs and facilities are in place to minimise the wastage of blood products
- facilities are accredited with the appropriate bodies to meet all quality and safety obligations
- transfusion-related adverse event information is collected and managed according to jurisdictional requirements
- AHPs have an ordering and receipt verification process in place which provides adequate financial accountability as required by governments
- inventory data is provided on a regular and timely basis to assist in supply and demand planning, especially in times of national shortages.
Get in touch
If you have a query about the National Stewardship Program, please contact us.
Last updated: 27 Mar 2024