§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the date when his Department gave instructions that all Factor VIII blood products should be heat treated.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 23 March 1987, c. 82]Manufacturers of Factor VIII initially developed heat treatment techniques to prevent the transmission of hepatitis. These techniques were found to inactivate HIV during 1984 and heat-treated Factor VIII was available for clinicians in the United Kingdom to prescribe on a named patient basis from the end of 1984.
All imported Factor VIII released for use in the United Kingdom since January 1985 has been heat-treated. From April 1985 heat-treated Factor VIII has also been produced by the blood products laboratory at Elstree.
§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is yet in a position to answer the question from the hon. Member for Birkenhead, 23 March, Official Report, column 82, concerning heat treatment of blood products, to which a holding answer was given.
§ Mr. NewtonI replied to the hon. Member today.
NHS directly employed staff: 30 September 1982 Numbers and Whole-time Equivalents1 Region Medical2 and Dental Nursing3 and Midwifery Administrative and Clerical Ancillary Others4 Total 1.Northern RHA Number 3,500 30,000 6,800 14,400 8,000 62,600 Whole time equivalents 2,700 26,400 6,100 11,400 7,500 54,000