Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT)

SHOT is the UK’s independent, professionally-led haemovigilance scheme. Since 1996 SHOT has been collecting and analysing anonymised information on adverse events and reactions in blood transfusion from all healthcare organisations that are involved in the transfusion of blood and blood components in the United Kingdom. Where risks and problems are identified, SHOT produces recommendations to improve patient safety. The recommendations are put into its annual report which is then circulated widely and to all of the reporting hospitals. As haemovigilance is an ongoing exercise, SHOT can also monitor the effect of the implementation of its recommendations.

Mission:
To improve patient safety in blood transfusion.

SHOT Aims:
• Improve standards of hospital transfusion practice.
• Educate users on transfusion hazards and their prevention.
• Aid production of clinical guidelines.
• Inform policy within the UK Blood Services.
• Inform national policy on transfusion safety within the UK.
• Inform Europe about transfusion safety in the UK.
• SHOT Objectives