Transfusion Laboratory Staffing
Transfusion laboratories:
Transfusion laboratories should be staffed (and resourced) adequately to meet the requirements of their functions.
- The Government stated in December 2024 that work was ongoing to determine the current status of transfusion staffing, reviewing best practice from other areas including nursing, and developing an evidence base to inform minimum staffing standards (Government Response to the Infected Blood Inquiry, Cabinet Office, December 2024).
- No published assessment of transfusion laboratory staffing adequacy has been identified to March 2026.
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted in Part
Response
Accepted in PartUK Government
Work is ongoing to determine the current status of transfusion staffing, reviewing best practice from other areas including nursing, and developing an evidence base to inform minimum staffing level standards. The data for staffing is complex and will require careful cross-checking and analysis to determine the best way forward. Funding will be required to undertake full workforce modelling and develop minimum staffing level standards.
Scottish Government
On recommendation 7c), the Scottish Government-NHS in Scotland Planning and Delivery Board is considering blood banks as part of both rural and island and diagnostics workstreams to review the sustainability of hospital services in these areas. This will include looking at staffing, as well as other options to help improve resilience and therefore ensure these services can continue to operate safely 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. In addition, the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 provides a statutory basis for the provision of appropriate staffing in health and care services, enabling safe care and improved outcomes for patients. The Act came into force in April 2024 and covers a wide range of NHS staff, including those working in transfusion laboratories.
Welsh Government
On recommendation 7c), (transfusion laboratories) Wales are updating national laboratory information systems to improve the efficiency of transfusion laboratory practice. Work is ongoing to determine the current status of transfusion staffing and developing a minimum staffing level standards which consider the impact of staffing requirements once digitisation programmes have been rolled out in 2025. WBS are currently costing the staffing gap within the transfusion laboratories across NHS Wales to address these issues.
Northern Ireland Executive
Work has been done by the Department to scope the requirements across the region in order for transfusion laboratories to meet the requirements of their functions.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
As of 13 January 2026: 3,721 people asked to start claims, 3,546 begun process, 3,074 received offers totalling £2.47bn, 2,861 paid totalling £1.89bn. Third compensation regulations in force 31 December 2025.
View detailed findings
IBCA exceeded initial expectations. Three sets of regulations now in force covering infected persons, affected persons, and supplementary routes. £11.8bn committed in October 2024 Budget. Independent review found "very creditable progress."