Development of a rational blood-ordering policy for obstetrics and gynaecology.

The relation between quantities of blood ordered to cover obstetrical and gynaecological diagnoses and quantities actually used was studied over a period of 3 months in one Scottish hospital. It appeared that the amount of blood ordered as 'cover' for many operative procedures and for patients under observation was, in many instances, uneconomic. On the basis of this a 'maximum surgical blood-ordering schedule' has been proposed which would reduce the amount of blood cross-matched as 'cover' by 65%. Review of the circumstances of all transfusions given over the study period suggested that adoption of the proposed schedule would not be detrimental to patient study.