Safety recommendation
HSIB recommends that the Royal College of Pathologists works with stakeholders to understand current practice and make any appropriate recommendations on neonatal specific reference ranges for total bilirubin and thresholds for direct communication of these results to clinicians.
Response:
This proposal was discussed at the Biochemistry Specialty Advisory Committee (SAC) of the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) in February 2023 and it was proposed that a recommendation regarding neonatal bilirubin be included in the next iteration of the communication of critical results guidance. Currently SAC chairs have been asked to produce proposals and comments on the current draft by 1st June 2024, these will then be assimilated into a draft document which will then be published for consultation before a final document is produced. It would be hoped that final guidance processes will be complete by the end of 2024 and the guidance can be published. We must be clear that we have no mandate to enforce implementation of such guidance and it will be up to individual pathology services across the UK to adopt any recommendations.
Response received on 22 March 2024.