HC Deb 23 June 1989 vol 155 cc281-2W
Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement concerning the circumstances in the national blood transfusion service that has caused the recent cancellation of operations and on the action he is now taking to prevent a repetition of such circumstances.

Mr. Freeman

The recent shortage of blood which led to the postponement of a small number of operations in some regions arose primarily because blood donors were not coming forward in sufficient numbers to maintain supplies.

The fine weather, bank holidays, and transport striked contributed to the fall in numbers of donations.

The national directorate of the blood transfusion service will be improving its monitoring of blood stocks and donor attendances so that timely steps can he taken to encourage donors to attend blood donor sessions in the future.

The temporary shortage of blood following the late May bank holiday has now been corrected.