Education for healthcare professionals

This page gives information about our online educational content. This includes digital resources such as Blood Essentials, as well as e-learning modules and the non-medical authorisation of blood components (NMA) course.

You can also access supporting resources and information about educational events on the topic of patient blood management and blood transfusion.

Blood Essentials

Blood Essentials is the key transfusion education and reference tool for transfusion practitioners. It supports you to establish your knowledge base and assists all healthcare professionals involved in blood transfusion.

It replaces our previous resources for new and experienced transfusion practitioners, 'A Drop of Knowledge' and 'A Wealth of Knowledge'.

Download Blood Essentials (PDF 13MB)

Give your feedback on Blood Essentials

Events and training resources

Blood Transfusion Education and Discussion Group

The Patient Blood Management team hosts the Blood Transfusion Education and Discussion Group (BTEDG), a monthly online education and discussion event.

This link will open in a new window.

Find out more on the NBTC website

National Blood Transfusion Committee events

The National Blood Transfusion Committee (NBTC) facilitates education events for healthcare professionals.

This link will open in a new window.

Find out more about NBTC events

Transfusion Training Hub

The Transfusion Training Hub on the NBTC website is designed to support education and training for all healthcare professionals working within blood transfusion.

This link will open in a new window.

Go to the Transfusion Training Hub

e-Learning

Information about our e-learning modules is listed below. You can access these through the following platforms:

Non-medical authorisation of blood components course

The non-medical authorisation of blood components (NMA) course is for regulated healthcare professionals. It provides the supporting theory required to gain competence to authorise the transfusion of blood components.

Completion of the course is not evidence of competence; the competence of any practitioner cannot be confirmed by NHS Blood and Transplant or Royal College of Nursing.

The cost is £300.

View dates and register for the NMA course

Use the following resources for more information about the NMA course:

Videos

The following videos provide important information for transfusion practitioners:

Share your feedback

If you have any questions or suggestions about the resources on this page, please email the Patient Blood Management team.

Contact us at: pbm.team@nhsbt.nhs.uk

Page last reviewed: 10 February 2025