§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on blood safety in the NHS. [48577]
§ Yvette CooperAbout three million blood components are transfused to over a million National Health Service patients in the United Kingdom each year. This blood meets standards of safety that are among the best in the world. However, almost every medical treatment or intervention, including blood transfusion, is associated with some risk.
The recent annual study from SHOT (Serious Hazards of Transfusion) published on 10 April 2002 is extremely valuable in assessing the safety of blood transfusion and demonstrates that blood transfusion in the UK is very safe and becoming even safer with improving technology and clinical audit. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.
The SHOT report demonstrates that serious adverse events associated with blood transfusion are rare. However many of them are avoidable. Improving patient safety, including reducing unintended harm to patients., is a major Government priority. The Department will be working with SHOT, the National Blood Service and the new National Patient Safety Agency on strategies to reduce the level of avoidable incidents associated with blood transfusion.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has conducted into 1237W transfusion-related acute lung injury with particular regard to blood donated by women who have had multiple births. [48578]
§ Yvette CooperThe Department has not conducted specific research in this area. However, the National Blood Authority is investigating cases of transfusion related acute lung injury to inform research in this area. The National Blood Authority is also currently evaluating options for reducing the risk to patients from this syndrome.