Day-transfusion centre for patients with thalassaemia major.

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.