HC Deb 25 May 1978 vol 950 cc714-5W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list all those private hospitals and other private medical organisations that receive blood free, indicating in each case the amount provided each month;

(2) how much blood was given to the United States armed services in each of the last two years; and where the blood came from.

Mr. Moyle

The information requested is not available centrally, but I am making inquiries and will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all those foreign organisations and countries to which the United Kingdom gives blood, specifying the yearly amount in each case.

Mr. Moyle

The information is not available in the form requested, but I am informed that the National Health Service provides rare types of blood to patients in foreign countries in response to emergencies. Such blood is supplied at infrequent intervals to any country requesting assistance and is given by donors recruited from all over the world who are listed on the International Panel of Donors of Rare Blood Types and who have agreed to the use of their blood in this way. The panel is administered by the Blood Group Reference Laboratory on behalf of the World Health Organisation.

If it is necessary to treat patients with rare blood groups in the United Kingdom, use may be made of this international panel and the blood is provided may come from donors in other countries.

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