HC Deb 07 July 1982 vol 27 c141W
Mr. Frank R. White

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many claims for accident and injury compensation have been received by the blood transfusion service each year for the latest available three years; how many have been settled out of court and at what cost; what categories of accidents and injuries these claims cover; and what have been the latest costs of these settlements in each of the years stated;

(2) what protection is offered to volunteers who give blood to the blood transfusion service in terms of compensation for accidents or injury.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Regional health authorities deal promptly and sympathetically with claims concerning accident or injury to blood donors. Claims involving compensation received by the national blood transfusion service in England and Wales in each of the past three years were as follows:

1979 54
1980 64
1981 77

Volunteers can be compensated for any injury or mishap but I am glad to say that the vast majority of claims and payments are very minor. Detailed information about the compensation paid is not collected centrally.

Mr. Frank R. White

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people volunteered to give blood to the blood transfusion service each year for the latest available three years.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The numbers of volunteers reporting to give blood and the number of donations taken in England and Wales in each of the past three years were as follows:

Volunteers reporting Donations collected
1979 2,144,484 1,941,823
1980 2,220,036 2,018,881
1981 2,255,731 2,065,428