Blood transfusion referrals

To facilitate referral, timely admission and blood transfusion where clinically indicated for community based patients, including Residents in Aged Care Facilities, Western Health have developed guidelines for GPs to directly refer patients with known causes of anaemia as a day patient. 

The aim of these guidelines is to provide GPs with an evidence-based tool when assessing the clinical urgency of a transfusion. If it is deemed that a patient needs a blood transfusion urgently, they should be referred to the Emergency Department. 

Western Health Guidelines for Transfusion for General Practitioners

Only patients with a known cause of anaemia can be referred to the Medical Ambulatory Day Unit (MADU) at Sunshine for a transfusion. Patients who do not have a known cause for their anaemia, must have the cause of the anaemia appropriately investigated and diagnosed before referrals can be accepted.

Western Health has developed evidence based 'Guidelines for Transfusion for General Practitioners' to help assess the clinical urgency of a transfusion. Please review these guidelines before referring.

How to refer community based patients including residents in  Aged Care Facilities for transfusion

Please refer to the GP referral of Community Based Patients Requiring Blood Transfusion flow chart for non-urgent patients with known causes of anaemia: 

1. Complete the GP referral for transfusion form and fax to MADU on 8345 0753
2. ​Complete the Alfred /Monash Health Shared Pathology Service Blood Bank Request Form. Please ensure the patient has any pre-transfusion testing (Group and Hold) at an Alfred/Monash Pathology Collection center.

Contact Us

MADU Sunshine  Phone: 8345 1984