§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many persons have been identified as blood donor carriers of hepatitis C under current screening methods; and what advice and counselling they receive.
§ Mr. SackvilleOne in 2,000 donors were found to be positive for hepatitis C when screening was introduced in 1991. In the National Blood Service, any donor found to be positive for any infective agent is offered counselling by trained specialist medical staff. In the case of counselling for hepatitis C, national guidelines have been established and are in use at all transfusion centres.