PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Amelia Fisher AU - Alvin Katumba AU - Khalid Musa AU - Shehana Wijethilleke AU - Zaibun Khan AU - Yooyun Chung AU - Waqas Akhtar TI - Reducing inappropriate blood testing in haematology inpatients: A multicentre quality improvement project AID - 10.7861/clinmed.2020-0250 DP - 2021 Mar 01 TA - Clinical Medicine PG - 142--146 VI - 21 IP - 2 4099 - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/21/2/142.short 4100 - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/21/2/142.full SO - Clin Med2021 Mar 01; 21 AB - Haematology inpatients are subject to extensive blood testing and many of these tests could be deemed inappropriate as they are not indicated for monitoring or clinical symptoms. Unnecessary testing exposes the patient to the risks of phlebotomy and adds resources’ strain to the NHS.Our aim was to reduce the number of inappropriate blood tests performed on haematology inpatient wards.Quality improvement projects (QIPs) were performed in four haematology units introducing inpatient blood testing schedules (BTS) or providing staff education on current schedules.A reduction in inappropriate or overall blood testing was achieved at every site where a BTS was implemented, with a median reduction in inappropriate blood testing of 24.7% and estimated cost savings of up to £38,438 per annum.This QIP can be safely adapted to a variety of inpatient settings and is associated with cost savings. This initiative could be extended to other inpatient departments throughout the NHS.