§ 3.4 p.m.
§ Lord Ritchie of DundeeMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all blood products provided to patients are free from contamination by AIDS.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, we are taking three complementary steps. First, we have mounted a campaign to dissuade people in AIDS high risk groups from donating blood. Secondly, we shall shortly introduce a screening test for all blood donations, once we have evaluated the test kits available. Thirdly, we are pressing ahead with heat treatment of blood products to inactivate AIDS virus where this is technically possible.
§ Lord Ritchie of DundeeMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness the Minister for her encouraging reply to my Question. I should like to ask her whether she can give us any idea of what proportion of the cases of AIDS infection which have so far occurred in this country has been directly traceable to contamination from blood products.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonNo, my Lords.
§ Lord EnnalsMy Lords, I wonder whether the noble Baroness can say to what extent Britain is now self-sufficient in blood products such as plasma and Factor 8, especially for haemophiliacs, who suffer from the double disadvantage of their own disease and the dangers that the blood which they need is not free from contamination. Does she agree that there seems to be a lower standard of blood collection in the United States, where of course payment is often made? May I ask what the Government are doing to make Britain independent of all but British blood?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, we are already self-sufficient as regards whole blood and blood components needed for ordinary transfusions. We are not yet self-sufficient in blood products such as Factor 8. At present, our blood products laboratory at Elstree makes about 40 per cent. of the Factor 8 required to treat haemophiliacs in England and Wales. The rest is supplied by commercial companies in the United States of America and Europe. The redevelopment at Elstree, costing over £35 million, is proceeding urgently and is on schedule. It is due to come into production in 1986, achieving full capacity by the end of 1986.
§ Baroness Masham of IltonMy Lords, may I ask the Minister whether she is aware that Scotland has a much more efficient blood transfusion service and has been self-sufficient in blood products? Will she say which regional health authorities are lagging behind in their producing of plasma so that they can be self-sufficient in Factor 8?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, no, I cannot give a breakdown, but I was interested to hear what the noble Baroness said about Scotland.
§ Baroness FaithfullMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend the Minister whether she is aware of the very deep distress and concern felt by haemophiliac families? Is she aware that in certain areas centres of counselling have been set up but because of the lack of resources social services departments are unable to fund them?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, in answer to my noble friend Lady Faithfull, yes, I am aware of the situation. I have recently had talks with some of those splendid doctors who are caring for haemophiliacs. Urgent talks are about to start, which will include the matter of haemophiliacs together with other questions on AIDS.
§ Lord EnnalsMy Lords, I am sorry to press the noble Baroness again but is it not deeply disturbing that we are only 40 per cent. independent for blood products in this country? Is there not something that the Government can do urgently now that AIDS has become really one of the most serious problems that the nation faces?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, I really think I have answered the noble Lord, Lord Ennals. As a past Minister for the DHSS, he should know that perhaps in his day more could have been done to bring up the amount of blood products.
§ Lord EnnalsMy Lords, neither the noble Baroness nor I had heard of AIDS when I was Secretary of State.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, in answer to that, the amount of blood produced for transfusions has not altered since AIDS.
§ Baroness DudleyMy Lords, can my noble friend tell us whether there is yet any kind of cure or vaccine for AIDS?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, there is at the moment no cure, but considerable research into this disease is in progress both in this country and abroad. Research in the United Kingdom is being co-ordinated by the Medical Research Council and there are currently five projects under way.
§ Baroness Masham of IltonMy Lords, may I ask the noble Baroness the Minister whether she will write to me, because her colleague said on television on Monday that he was very concerned about the regional health authorities which were lagging behind and I think he knows which ones they are?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonYes, my Lords.
§ Lord Ritchie of DundeeMy Lords, may I be permitted to ask the noble Baroness whether, in view of the urgency of the situation and the very costly enterprise that the giving of the forthcoming blood tests to any would-be donors will involve, any additional funding is to be available to the National Health Service and to the blood transfusion service?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, we wrote to regional health authorities on 20th February 1985 1202 asking them to set aside funds in 1985–86 for the introduction of the AIDS screening test in their blood transfusion centres. We would expect regional health authorities to find the money needed from within the £9,505 million made available for the hospital and community health services in 1985–86.
§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy Lords, the noble Baroness has failed to answer a number of questions during the course of this period of questioning. Will she tell us whether she has not been briefed or whether she has failed to read the brief?