§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is the policy of the West Midlands regional transfusion centre to purchase its supply of blood products from the Bio Products Laboratory rather than subject to tender to commercial suppliers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellThe hospitals which use blood products are free to choose between commercial products or the Bio Products Laboratory (BPL) products. The West Midland blood transfusion centre supplies plasma to the BPL and acts as distributor of its products to those hospitals which wish to use them. Those hospitals which prefer commercial products can readily obtain them through the usual pharmaceutical distribution channels.