Wrong blood issued for sick patient by scientist

A BUNGLING hospital scientist endangered the health of a critically-ill child when he issued the wrong blood, a hearing was told.

Amjad El Sayed Omar, who speaks limited English, noticed that the "luggage tag" clearly identified another patient, but went ahead anyway, it was said.

Colleagues at Stafford Hospital, pictured below, then phoned him to double-check but Omar gave clear assurances that all was well, the Health Professions Council (HPC) heard yesterday.

It took another two hours for the biomedical scientist to realise his error, by which time 25 per cent of the blood had been transfused.

Omar then discarded the rest of the blood, but failed to own up to the blunder. An investigation found Omar had been working for more than five months without being registered with the HPC.

Vicky Lord, for the HPC, said Omar was working in the haematology department at the time of the incident on March 18 last year.

When he arrived for the night shift he was briefed about two deliveries of blood expected that evening, one of which was "urgently needed" for a child.

Ms Lord said: "At 5.30pm, there was a delivery. Mr Omar called the children's ward and told staff the blood was ready. He was aware the blood wasn't labelled correctly, but went ahead with issuing it. He assumed it had been labelled incorrectly by the National Blood Service."

The blood was collected but staff on the ward telephoned him minutes later. Although Omar had marked the blood for the child, the additional "luggage tag" caused concern.

Ms Lord said: "Mr Omar explained that the blood was for the child and had been delivered as a result of an emergency request. He said it had been sent out with a previous name tag, but that patient didn't need the blood anymore."

More than two hours later Omar received a call from the National Blood Service to say the blood intended for the boy was on its way.

Omar telephoned the children's ward and told them to immediately stop the transfusion.

"Only 25 per cent of the blood had been used," said Ms Lord. "The following day he discarded the blood and went off duty and did not inform members of staff about the incident."

Mid Staffordshire General Hospital NHS Trust investigated the matter and interviewed Omar a fortnight later.

He admitted the blunder and apologised. Days later staff discovered his registration had lapsed and he was not registered with the HPC between December 2007 and June 2008. Ms Lord said Omar's difficulties with English had hampered his HPC application.

Edward Starrs, who investigated the case for the trust, acknowledged Omar's problems with language. But he said his difficulties should not have lead to problems with the "luggage tags attached to blood."

Omar's son is helping him follow the proceedings by translating. Omar admits failing to take adequate care when issuing blood; failing to report the incident; and failing to renew his registration as a biomedical scientist.

Omar, of Sidmouth Avenue, Stafford, has made no admission to a charge of impaired fitness to practise. If found guilty, he could be thrown out of the profession.

The hearing continues.