§ Mr. HayesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding his recent circular on the establishment of a national blood authority; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellWe have received a wide range of responses to the consultation document on the proposal to establish a national blood authority—NBA—to oversee the provision of blood supplies in England. Respondents have generally supported the principle of a NBA to replace the national directorate of the National Blood Transfusion Service and the Central Blood Laboratories Authority. We now propose to set up a technical working group of the main National Health Service interests to consider the relevant operational matters.
Our blood supply is among the safest in the world thanks to our blood services and the voluntary donors who freely give their blood for the benefit of those who need it. We consider the NBA will be effective in maintaining and improving on the high standards of safety, quality and efficiency in our blood services to the benefit of both patients and donors.