§ Mr. TynanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) for what reason identity cards given to blood donors are not recognised in areas other than where they are issued; [27281]
(2) what measures his Department will implement to introduce a national blood donor register that enables blood donor identity cards to be recognised throughout the UK. [27280]
§ Yvette CooperThree National Blood Service (NBS) databases of blood donor details covering London and the south east, the midlands and the south west and the north and north Wales were established reflecting the original NBS zonal structure. Donors are currently unable to use their identity card outside the region served by their database. However, they can still give blood in another region if they register as a new donor.
The NBS plan to introduce a national donor register from April 2004. This will enable donors to use their identity card in any NBS session in England and north Wales. There are no plans to integrate the registers for the four United Kingdom blood services.