It is a fundamental legal and ethical principle that valid consent must be obtained from a patient before they are treated.

In 2025, the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) published guidelines on Patient Consent and Shared Decision-Making for Blood Transfusion, an update to the previous SaBTO Patient Consent to Blood Transfusion Guidelines from 2020.

The recommendations within these guidelines aim to enhance the provision of pertinent information to patients, to ensure an effective process for obtaining consent, and to support shared decision making around blood transfusion. They apply to all patients who may be exposed to blood components or blood products in any healthcare setting.

The pages below provide further information for patients and guidance for healthcare practitioners.