title: Day-transfusion centre for patients with thalassaemia major.
abstract: In August, 1973, the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, established a day-transfusion centre for treatment of children with thalassemia major. The centre is described, and the results of the first 4 months of operation were compared with a similar period before the centre opened, for the same fifty children. A significant decrease in total number of nights spent in hospital, hours spent at hospital for each blood-transfusion, days lost from school or unusual activity, and travel cost was noted. The transfusion-rate rose, but this probably reflected a change of policy rather than an effect of the centre.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D001771:Blood Banks; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors