§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will make a statement on the regional and local availability of blood from blood banks under the control of the National Blood Authority;
(2) what assessment she has made of the proposed revision of distribution arrangements by the National Blood Authority; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe National Blood Authority is responsible for co-ordinating the activities of the National446W Blood Service in order to meet the demand from hospitals for blood, both nationally and locally. The authority has made proposals for reorganisation of the National Blood Service and these are out for consultation. The National Blood Authority plans to have a network of stockholding units around the country so that it can maintain supply at its present level and improve it wherever possible. The results of the consultation will be carefully considered before decisions are made.
§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Health in how many places blood donor sessions were held in each year since 1987; in how many places sessions are expected to take place in 1995 and 1996; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleUnder the National Blood Authority's proposals to improve the national blood service, blood collection will continue, as at present, to be easily accessible to donors. Collection teams would be larger and locally based, rather than all operating from the transfusion centres as at present. All major population areas would be covered. In 1992 there were 19,000 blood donor sessions. The number of blood donor session locations is not available centrally.