§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what quantity of blood donated through the Blood Transfusion Service in Scotland has gone to the private health sector in each of the past five years; and what proportion this forms of total donations;
(2) to what extent Scotland has been self-sufficient in blood supplies in each of the past five years; and how any surplus has been used or any deficit been met.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 16 March 1994]: The information available is as follows:
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Blood units issued Percentage of total issues in Scotland 1988–89 3,301 0.97 1989–90 3,347 0.94 1990–91 3,361 0.90 1991–92 3,036 0.79 1992–93 3,250 0.89 In each of the past five years Scotland has been self-sufficient in supplies of fresh blood, plasma and fresh blood components, meeting all clinical demand. A small quantity of blood products of types not produced in Scotland is obtained from other suppliers as and when required for special clinical purposes.
Red cell concentrate is the product most often in surplus and when requested in an emergency on humanitarian grounds any surplus available has been provided to blood transfusion services in other parts of the United Kingdom or to the World Health Organisation and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.