Internal Reference Number: FOI_8522
Date Request Received: 19/03/2025 00:00:00
Date Request Replied To: 07/04/2025 00:00:00
This response was sent via: By Email
Request Summary: Improving the blood culture pathway
Request Category: Companies
Question Number 1: Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please could the SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ provide the following information. In June 2022 NHS England published a document entitled ‘Improving the blood culture pathway’ which included a few recommendations regarding blood culture collection and data that should be collected and reported on at Board level. Can you please provide me with answers to the following questions: Does your Trust have a process for skin preparation/cleaning prior to blood collection? Y/N | |
Answer To Question 1: Yes | |
Question Number 2: Do you take two sets of blood cultures each time as recommended in the guidance? Y/N | |
Answer To Question 2: No | |
Question Number 3: f no, what percentage of patients do have two sets of blood cultures taken? | |
Answer To Question 3: 35% | |
Question Number 4: Do you measure the volume of blood taken each time a blood culture is taken (the recommended amount is 20ml per sample)? Y/N | |
Answer To Question 4: Analyser measures blood volume audited periodically | |
Question Number 5: Do you measure the time between blood sample collection and the sample being loaded onto an analyser instrument (the recommended maximum time is four hours)? Y/N | |
Answer To Question 5: Yes- audited periodically | |
Question Number 6: If yes, what is the average time? | |
Answer To Question 6: 7.65 | |
Question Number 7: Do you collect data on blood sample contamination? Y/N | |
Answer To Question 7: Yes- audit done periodically | |
Question Number 8: Is the data described above reported at Board level as recommended? | |
Answer To Question 8: Last formal report was for FY2018-19 | |
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Our staff at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Hospital have long been well regarded for the quality of care and treatment they provide for our patients and for their innovation, commitment and professionalism. This has been recognised in a wide range of achievements and it is reflected in our award of NHS Foundation Trust status. This is afforded to hospitals that provide the highest standards of care.