§ Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she has reached a decision on the future management structure for the NHS blood services.
§ Mr. SackvilleFollowing a review we have decided to bring together responsibility for managing all parts of the national health service blood services in England into a single national blood authority (NBA). I shall lay an order in due course to establish the new authority. From 1 April 879W 1993 it will replace the existing Central Blood Laboratories Authority and the National Directorate of the National Blood Transfusion Service; and subsequently will assume responsibility for managing the regional transfusion centres at the earliest opportunity.
The key objectives of the NBA will be:
- to maintain and promote blood and blood product supply based on our outstanding system of voluntary unpaid donors;
- to implement a cost-effective national strategy for ensuring an adequate supply of blood and blood products to meet national needs;
- to ensure that high standards of safety and quality in the blood supply are maintained throughout the blood services;
- to ensure that blood products meet a consistent standard of safety and quality;
- to ensure the cost efficient operation of the Transfusion Centres and the Bio Products Laboratory both individually and together as parts of the national service.
Our blood supply is of high quality and among the safest in the world. We believe that the new management structure will enable the blood service to maintain and improve on those high standards and to enhance its operations so that the blood freely donated by our volunteer donors can be used most effectively in the interests of patients.
I am pleased to announce that Sir Colin Walker, deputy chairman Central Blood Laboratories Authority, has agreed to serve also as the chairman of the new national blood authority when it is set up. Further appointments will be announced later.