• Overview: Blood safety risk issues concern not only specific groups of people but society as a whole. Consultation with selected stakeholders improves the quality of decisions by creating a shared understanding and building trust. Communication with a broader group of stakeholders (which may include the general public) can help society understand and embrace important decisions.
• Considerations for consultation: When developing a strategy for consulting your key stakeholders, keep the following principles in mind:
  • Stakeholders have a right to be consulted about decisions that affect them and issues in which they have a significant interest.
  • Stakeholder consultation is a way to show good faith and accountability.
  • The extent of stakeholder involvement depends on the situation.
  • Be clear about which aspects of an issue are open to stakeholder input.
  • Let stakeholders know how their input was used.
  • Even if some stakeholders disagree with a decision, engaging them in the process helps them accept the decision as valid.
• Considerations for communication: When communicating risk to a broader audience of stakeholders, be sure to address:
  • The reason and urgency for risk communication
  • The intended outcome, time frame, and budget for the program
  • The core message(s) to be communicated and the evidence behind the message(s)
  • The form of communication needed, which may be persuasive or informative.

More detail on consultation and communication