Blood (Hansard, 12 December 1994)

§ Mr. Illsley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what blood or blood products produced in the United Kingdom have been sold internationally; in what amounts; and to which countries.

§ Mr. Sackville
Blood collected by the national blood service is for the needs of the national health service not for sale or export. The amount of blood collected is determined by the needs of NHS hospitals for blood. Blood products are produced from components of donated blood by the bio products laboratory, which is a part of the National Blood Authority. Surpluses of products, that is after NHS demand has been satisfied, may be exported rather than destroyed. The only blood product where present availability significantly exceeds NHS demand is albumin and this is exported worldwide. This avoids waste of valuable resource and supplements NHS income available for patients.

§ Mr. Illsley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what funds were made available during 1993 and 1994 to date to encourage an increase in the amount of blood donated; during which periods; and to what amounts;
(2) what sum was made available to each blood transfusion service for advertising purposes during the Christmas and new year period of 1994–95.

§ Mr. Sackville
National publicity to retain existing donors and recruit new donors for the national blood service is funded and organised centrally by the Department of Health. In 1993–94, £1.6 million was spent on national publicity. The budget for 1994–95 is £1.2 million. The proportions devoted to advertising at times of potential seasonal shortage and emergencies are 57 and 50 per cent. respectively. Local publicity is generally funded and organised by the National Blood Authority.

§ Mr. Illsley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many operations were cancelled owing to a shortage of blood in 1993 and 1994 to date;
(2) what considerations led to the decision of the National Blood Authority to increase its stock levels of donated blood for the end of 1994 and the beginning of 1995.
(3) if she will make a statement on the expected supply of donated blood during the period of reorganisation of the National Blood Authority;
(4) what was the stock levels of blood held nationally for each month of 1993 and 1994 to date;
(5) during what periods during 1993 and 1994 to date there was a shortfall in the supply of blood;
474W
(6) what criteria are used to decide the levels of donated blood kept by the National Blood Authority.

§ Mr. Sackville
The National Blood Authority is responsible for managing and monitoring the blood supply. A difficult balance has to be struck by the authority between unpredictable demand from the national health service and uncertain supply from the planned collection programme. This balance is subject to considerable seasonal and other fluctuations. From figures available centrally, over the last 12 months average blood stocks have ranged from 15,505 units in July 1994, to 27,142 units in February 1994. Blood stock figures for previous years are not available centrally. Although on occasions, including several days in September 1994, stocks fell below what the NBA regard as a safe limit emergency demands for blood have always been met. Figures are not available centrally on whether operations are cancelled.

§ Mr. Illsley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals are in place regarding the transfer of jobs resulting from the proposed merger of blood transfusion centres.

§ Mr. Sackville
The National Blood Authority will produce final proposals after the consideration and evaluation of the comments received during the recent consultation exercise has been completed.

§ Mr. Illsley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list(a) the performance indicator of each of the United Kingdom's blood transfusion centres, (b) the criteria by which any proposed merger will be judged and (c) the percentage number of contracted donors who actually donate at each transfusion centre.

§ Mr. Sackville
The details of the system are a matter for the National Blood Authority. Approximately 5 per cent. of all blood donations take place at transfusion centres.