Consent for blood transfusion

It is a general legal and ethical principle that valid consent should 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 aim of these guidelines is to ensure that:

• pertinent information about blood transfusion is proivded to patients exposed to blood components and blood products in healthcare setting
• an effective process is in place for obtaining patients’ consent and supporting shared decision-making

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

Useful links

• British Society for Haematology – Guidelines on the administration of blood components
• General Medical Council – Guidance on decision making and consent
• Department of Health and Social Care – Reference guide to consent for examination or treatment