Independent report

Blood transfusion: patient consent

Recommendations from the advisory committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) on patient consent for blood transfusion.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Published: 17 December 2020
• Last updated: 27 November 2025 — See all updates

Documents

Patient consent and shared decision-making for blood transfusion: guidelines from the SaBTO expert advisory committee  

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This document provides guidelines on patient consent and shared decision-making for blood transfusion. It was produced by the Advisory Committee for the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) Consent for Blood Transfusion Working Group.

The working group was re-established in September 2024 to update the 2020 SaBTO guidelines on patient consent for blood transfusion. The new edition contains updated references, includes a new chapter on consent for children and neonates, and provides examples of good practice.

These guidelines were approved by SaBTO on 4 June 2025. They are due to be reviewed in October 2028.

Published 17 December 2020

Last updated 27 November 2025 + show all updates

1. 27 November 2025

   Updated guidelines which supersede the previous SaBTO patient consent for blood transfusion guidelines (2020). These guidelines were approved by the Advisory Committee on SaBTO on 4 June 2025. The new edition contains updated references, includes a new chapter on consenting children and neonates, and provides examples of good practice.

2. 17 December 2020

   First published.