§ Mr. HavardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS trusts are required to transfuse anaemic cancer patients at the haemoglobin levels recommended by the British Committee for Standards in Haematology, following the publication of the Health Service Circular 2002/009, Better Blood Transfusion; Appropriate Use of Blood. [73958]
§ Ms BlearsThe Department published Health Service Circular 2002/009,Better Blood Transfusion—Appropriate Use of Blood on 4 July 2002, available on www.doh.gov.uk/publications/coinh.html. This circular recommends that National Health Service trusts adopt national guidelines for the appropriate use of blood and recommends a number of national guidelines and web sites, including guidelines from the British committee for standards in haematology published in 2001. These guidelines provide specific advice to clinicians. The type of treatment offered to anaemic cancer patients is a matter of individual clinical judgement and discussion with the patient concerned.
§ Mr. HavardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS trusts are required to give patients information on(a) the alternatives to transfusion and (b) the standards of transfusion in advance of receiving treatment following the publication of the Health Service Circular 2002/009, Better Blood Transfusion—Appropriate Use of Blood. [73959]
§ Ms BlearsThe Department published Health Service Circular 2002/009,Better Blood Transfusion—Appropriate Use of Blood, on 4 July 2002, available on www.doh.gov.uk/publications/coinh.html. This circular asks National Health Service trusts and primary care trusts to ensure that written information is made available to patients on transfusion and the alternatives by April 2003.