HC Deb 17 January 1995 vol 252 cc430-1W
25. Mr. Tipping

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made by her Department of the current shortfall in blood stocks at the present time.

Mr. Sackville

The National Blood Authority has sufficient stocks to meet the needs of hospitals for blood at the present time.

27. Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to make a decision about the future of the blood transfusion service.

Mr. Sackville

The National Blood Authority has announced that it will ask an independent panel consisting of Professor A. Bellingham, president of the Royal College of Pathologists; Professor A. Breckenridge; Professor in Pharmacology, university of Liverpool; Dr. H. Gunson; previous medical director, National Blood Authority; and Mr. P. Griffiths; director, King's Fund college, to ensure that the authority, in coming to its final decisions, has given due and objective consideration to the comments received during its recent consultation. The authority will publish its final proposals in due course.