Transfusion Risk Group

To support implementation of the SHOT recommendations, the BHNOG established a Wales SHOT working group, currently chaired by Rachel Borrell, Transfusion Quality Manager in Cardiff and Vale UHB. The group consists of transfusion related professionals in various roles from all health boards in Wales and acts to proactively utilise the SHOT ideals to improve national transfusion safety.

Current areas of focus are:

A Welsh incident reporting tool – to allow ‘live’ review of incident reporting and trends within Wales that could require additional focus by the group.

Human Factors training – a key recommendation from SHOT over recent years. A toolkit to support use of human factors in incident investigation can be found here

If you are interested in getting involved with the Wales SHOT working group please contact WBS.BloodHealthTeam@wales.nhs.uk

Click here to visit the SHOT website

The BHNOG Transfusion risk group (TRG) was initially launched as the Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) Working Group and was established to support implementation of recommendations from SHOT, and monitor incidents reported across Wales to the UK haemovigilance schemes; Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and SHOT.

Following the publication of the Infected Blood Inquiry (IBI) report, and in particular recommendation 7e, which highlights the importance of SHOT reporting, and implementing its recommendations, and the acknowledgement that MHRA and SHOT reportable incidents capture only a fraction of transfusion-related concerns, the BHNOG recognises the need for broader risk oversight to fully understand and address these risks within Wales

In July 2025, the SHOT recommendations were replaced by the SHOT Transfusion Safety Standards to address recurring trends and embed a proactive approach to enhance safety.

The remit of the TRG has now expanded to monitor and provide oversight of the transfusion risk within Wales and support any actions that are generated, whilst also supporting the implementation of any transfusion safety recommendations and standards including SHOT. This provides opportunity for shared learning and to develop actions for mitigation and escalation.

This will be achieved through working in partnership with key healthcare professionals and subject matter experts within the spheres of transfusion practice, hemovigilance and patient quality and safety.

The current Terms of Reference are available here and the group is currently chaired by Rachel Borrell, Blood Health Team Operational Manager.