The Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) Initiative: The UK Approach to Haemovigilance

SHOT: Aims, organization and rctlorting system Aims SHOT works as a confidential reporting system which aims to collect data on serious adverse events of transfusion of blood components, and to make recommendations to improve transfusion safety.Through the participating Royal Colleges and professional bodies, SHOT findings can be used to (1) inform policy within transfusion services and at Department of Health level, (2) improve standards of hospital transfusion practice, (3) aid production of clinical guidelines for the use of blood components, ( 4) educate users on transfusion hazards and their prevention, and (5) provide a 'rapid alert' of clusters of existing or new hazards which may emerge.This year, SHOT has joined tlle Internet, and you can find us at http//www.shot.demon.co.uk. OrganisationThe strategic direction of SHOT comes from a Steering Group witll wide representation from Royal Colleges and professional bodies representing medical, nursing and laboratOI)' staff.SHOT was affiliated to the Royal College of Patllologists in November 1997.The operational aspects of tlle scheme are the responsibility of a Standing Working Group, which is accountable to the Steering Group.SHOT is tllerefore entirely professionally driven and organised, with no direct formal links eitller to government or regulatory agencies.