Blood Supplies (North-West)

HC Deb 31 October 1994 vol 248 cc901-2W

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the average time taken to deliver blood supplies to hospitals throughout the north-west following the proposed closure of two blood transfusion centres.

Mr. Sackville

The National Blood Authority is satisfied that its proposal to establish a network of blood banks will enable it to continue to respond to emergency demand for blood without detriment to patient care and will result in an improved service to hospitals.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to replace the blood collected from the blood transfusion service at Lancaster for use throughout the north-west.

Mr. Sackville

The majority of blood donation does not take place at transfusion centres. Mobile collection teams go out into the community to conduct pre-arranged donation sessions. Under the NBA's proposals mobile teams would go out to donors in all areas whether the centres are amalgamated or not.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements she has made for the specialist provision of factor 8 to hospitals throughout the north-west of England following the proposed closure of two blood transfusion centres.

Mr. Sackville

The. availability to hospitals of factor 8 will not be affected by the National Blood Authority's proposals.