§ Mr. MillerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to ensure that a change to fewer and larger blood collection sessions will not lead to a substantial drop in the number of donors;
(2) what plans she has to ensure that the closure of five regional blood transfusion centres will not lead to a shortage of blood supplies throughout the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. SackvilleIt is the responsibility of the National Blood Authority to ensure that an adequate supply of blood is available to meet the needs of hospitals. The authority has made it clear that, under its proposals, whatever services hospitals receive now they will receive in future. With regard to blood collection, the authority's proposals envisage an increase in the number of collection team bases to provide more effective coverage of the country.
§ Mr. MillerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) where she proposes to site the new blood stockholding units; and what facilities they would provide;
(2) what is her estimate of (a) the number of jobs which will be lost by the closure of five regional blood transfusion centres and (b) the cost in redundancy payments to those made redundant;
(3) what criteria were used to decide which five of the present 15 regional blood transfusion centres should be closed.
§ Mr. SackvilleThese are matters for the National Blood Authority to consider in the light of its thorough and widespread consultation. The results of the consultation will be carefully considered before decisions are made.
§ Mr. MillerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria are used to estimate the annual budget required by the National Blood Authority.
§ Mr. SackvilleAs part of the business planning process, the National Blood Authority estimates the running costs of the Blood Transfusion Service, the Bio Products Laboratory and the International Blood Group Reference Laboratory, and takes account of income from blood handling charges, and sale of manufactured blood products.