relation: http://miis.maths.ox.ac.uk/miis/608/ title: Optimizing blood stock management for efficient usage of O-negative blook in the mid-west area of Ireland creator: Fell, C. creator: Golding, M. creator: Gleeson, J. creator: Jetka, T. creator: Korobeinikov, A. creator: Kubat, I. creator: Lynch, E. creator: Magdalina, A.M. creator: Mitchell, S. creator: Smith, N. subject: Medical and pharmaceutical description: O-negative blood is a valuable asset as it can be transfused into any patient regardless of blood group and is therefore used in emergencies. However, O-negative blood is comparatively rare and therefore it must be carefully rationed. The Irish blood transfusion service is concerned that O-negative donors are being asked to donate too often and would like to reduce the amount of O-negative blood used, and in particularly reduce the usage of O-negative blood for the cases where it is not clinically necessary. The study group considered possibilities for a reduction of the O-negative blood usage in the Mid-West Area, where the current situation is particularly alarming. With the aim to quantify and minimize risks to patients in the Limerick region under a new regime in which less O-negative blood is stored at any one time, the study group explored the consequences of reducing the amount of O-negative blood stored at six local hospitals. The study group also explored the possibility of achieving a reduction of the inappropriate usage of O-negative blood by optimizing current routine practice and worked out practical recommendations for an improvement of O-negative blood management that can potentially reduce inappropriate use of O-negative blood to zero. date: 2011 type: Study Group Report type: NonPeerReviewed format: application/pdf language: en identifier: http://miis.maths.ox.ac.uk/miis/608/1/BloodStock.pdf identifier: Fell, C. and Golding, M. and Gleeson, J. and Jetka, T. and Korobeinikov, A. and Kubat, I. and Lynch, E. and Magdalina, A.M. and Mitchell, S. and Smith, N. (2011) Optimizing blood stock management for efficient usage of O-negative blook in the mid-west area of Ireland. [Study Group Report]