Abstract Aim Frequent Full Blood Count (FBC) and Urea & Electrolyte (U&E) testing in surgical patients can lead to unnecessary phlebotomy, increasing risks such as infections and prolonged hospital stays. This audit aims to assess compliance with recommended retesting intervals and implement improvements to enhance patient safety and optimize resource utilization. Financially, save hospital resources as per saving un-necessary blood tests we could save Millions of pounds every year, which can be used in other benefits. Methodology A retrospective analysis was conducted using hospital system data from 70 randomly selected surgical patients in two cycles first August,2024 cycle 2nd cycle is December 2024. A total of 731 blood test requests (FBCs +U&Es) were reviewed. Requests were categorized as compliant or non-compliant based on national guidelines (Royal College of Pathology, NHS England and NICE guideline), with non-compliant tests further classified as either unnecessary or missed but necessary. Ethical considerations ensured patient confidentiality. Results The second audit cycle demonstrated:A 49% improvement in appropriately requested necessary tests.A 5% reduction in unnecessary blood tests.An overall 22.8% increase in compliance with best practice guidelines. Conclusion Enhancing awareness among surgical teams and incorporating guideline-based recommendations led to improved compliance with appropriate retesting intervals. Future initiatives should involve allied healthcare professionals, expand monitoring to all blood tests, and integrate routine teaching into new doctor inductions. Regular audits remain crucial in sustaining and further optimizing blood testing practices in surgical care. This way we could save more than 100,000 £ monthly in every hospital.
A. Asaad (Fri,) studied this question.
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