§ Mr. McTaggartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Common Services Agency costing study of 66W the supply of units by the blood transfusion service to private sector medical establishments has been completed; and if it has been decided to vary the charge to these establishments as a result.
§ Mr. John MacKayNo.
§ Mr. McTaggartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many units of blood were supplied to (a) commercial medical establishments and (b) other private hospitals by the Scottish blood transfusion service in each year since, and inclusive of, 1982–83; what has been the estimated cost of such supplies in each year; and what has been the revenue income in each year from charging for such supplies.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe information is as follows:
Units of Whole Blood Supplied to the Private Sector Revenue Received 1982–83 650 Nil 1983–84 560 £1,915 1984–85 730 £27,287 Notes:
1. Charges were introduced in November 1983.
2. The receipts relate to blood and blood products; information about receipts for whole blood only is not available.
3. Receipts will not necessarily be brought to account in the year of supply.
4. Information about costs is not available.
§ Mr. McTaggartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current charge per unit of whole blood to (a) commercial medical establishments and (b) other private hospitals in Scotland for blood supplied to them by the Scottish blood transfusion service; and if the charge has been varied since being introduced.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe current charge to the private sector is £19 per unit of whole blood. It will be increased very shortly.
§ Mr. McTaggartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the factors taken into account, and the financial weighting attached to each, when fixing the handling charges for blood supplied to private hospitals; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe charge is intended to cover the expenses incurred by the blood transfusion service in processing blood for supplying to the private sector. No charge is made for the blood itself.