As part of the Integrated Blood Shortage Plan, all hospitals will be required to reduce demand in AMBER and RED status. In order to facilitate this, the Blood Stocks Management Scheme was asked to produce an estimate of normal demand in GREEN status for each hospital supplied by NHSBT. Using this estimate hospitals and NHSBT can evaluate how much blood should be used per week during AMBER and RED status. We have called the amount ‘the weekly budget’; it is specific to each hospital and will be recalculated each month to take account of recent trends. The figure is derived from analysis of your hospital monthly issue data.

Budget information will be provided to each hospital with their quarterley issue and wastage reports in hard copy by post.

The weekly budget is currently calculated as a rolling average based on a hospital's average monthly issues over the last 12 months. Any movements of stock between hospitals are taken into account 

During GREEN status, 'the weekly budget' may be used as a guide to the amount of red cell demand that you can expect at your hospital during any given week.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of 'the weekly budget', please contact Sue Cotton

Link to NHSBT Emergency Planning Page

Link to DH publications and policy guidance