§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if operating costs of the blood transfusion service are currently covered by a standard national charge for each unit.
§ Mr. DorrellAt present in 12 of the 14 English regions no charges are made by the national blood transfusion service (NBTS) to national health service hospitals for operating costs. The remaining two regions have introduced arrangements by which the operating costs are recovered in proportion to the district's demands on the regional transfusion centre (RTC) for blood supplies. The reimbursement to the RTCs will not include any element for the blood itself. This is freely donated by voluntary donors to whom we are all indebted.
There are, however, standard national blood handling charges designed to recover the costs incurred in supplying non-NHS hospitals with blood and blood derivatives. Again, these charges do not include any element for the blood itself which is donated free of charge to the NBTS for use where needed.