Update of the Critical Bleeding Guideline
The Patient blood management guideline for adults with critical bleeding (2023) (Critical Bleeding Guideline) will be incrementally updated between 2027 to 2029 to keep it current and evidence based. At the project's conclusion, the guideline will be fully up to date.
Development process
To ensure recommendations are trustworthy and relevant to the Australian context, the update process involves:
- the systematic review and critical appraisal of the latest research (scientific evidence)
- input from clinical experts
- stakeholder feedback
A Critical Bleeding Clinical/Consumer Reference Group (CRG) will:
- review the evidence
- use GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) to assess the certainty (or quality) of the evidence
- develop recommendations.
The CRG may also 'adopt or adapt' recommendations from other high quality guidelines. The CRG may determine that a recommendation can be directly adopted for the Australian context or adapted to suit the Australian context.
As part of updating the Critical Bleeding Guideline, the NBA and CRG will trial elements of a living guideline model that will help us to assess long term options to maintain the clinical practice guidelines.
Further information on guideline development can be found in the Guidelines for Guidelines Handbook(Opens in a new tab/window) and The Living Guidelines Handbook(Opens in a new tab/window).
Evaluation of the PBM & Rh D Ig Guidelines
The NBA intends to evaluate the effectiveness and future direction of the Patient Blood Management Guidelines and the Guideline for the prophylactic use of Rh D immunoglobulin in pregnancy care (Rh D Ig Guideline).
Over the next 12 months, we will consult widely to understand:
- how the current guidelines are being used
- key barriers and opportunities for strengthening PBM implementation
- priority topics and emerging evidence in PBM or Rh D Ig prophylaxis
- opportunities to improve the value, usability and presentation of the guidelines in practice.
The findings will inform our longer-term approach to updating and strengthening the PBM and Rh D Ig Guidelines, including the future scope, format and approach to updating the guidelines, and to supporting national PBM implementation.
Patient Blood Management education
BloodSafe eLearning Australia(Opens in a new tab/window) (BEA) provides free online courses relating to PBM and clinical transfusion practice for health professionals, including:
- Clinical Transfusion Practice
- Patient Blood Management
- Acute Care and Surgical
- Medical, Obstetrics, Neonates and Paediatrics
- Iron Deficiency Anaemia.
Also available in the Resource Centre(Opens in a new tab/window) are free videos, tools and promotional materials.
Implementation activities
To support health providers in implementing the PBM Guidelines, we facilitate the development of free tools and materials.
Transparency
We would welcome your involvement - all stakeholders are invited to participate.
Subscribe to be kept up to date on PBM Guidelines updates and any opportunities to provide feedback and get involved by completing this subscription form(Opens in a new tab/window).
Get in touch
We welcome comments and feedback on our guidelines which can be sent to guidelines@blood.gov.au.
Last updated: 20 Jul 2026