Education, training and competency assessment for intraoperative cell salvage.

The use of Intraoperative Cell Salvage (ICS) is an important facet in establishing the recommendations of Better Blood Transfusion (DH 2007). Training in ICS often varies and has been identified as a challenge in the establishment of the routine use of ICS (UKCSAG 2007a). To help address this, the UK Cell Salvage Action Group, has developed a number of tools to assist in the delivery of both theory and practical elements of ICS training. The aim of this work is to provide standardised educational materials to support ICS training in hospitals throughout the UK.