The Scottish Epidemiological Database (STED) is a national database that has been developed by the Better Blood Transfusion Programme and the Information and Statistics Division of National Services Scotland to provide answers to critical questions about who needs blood and why they need it.

The majority of NHS Scotland Divisions have provided hospital blood bank records for all patients, and by linking with inpatient and day case records, allow, for the first time, a population wide view of how and why transfusions are used in Scotland.

The first output has been to provide NHSScotland clinicians with reports on the clinical use of blood for the main groups of surgical operations.

STED shows changes in the patterns of blood use in the population and will be a valuable tool for planning to meet future needs.

Contact: Amanda Stewart, Blood Use Project Manager
Tel: 0131 536 5943
Email:amandas@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk