§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
In the light of the reported transfusion-related acute lung injury case settled out of court by the National Blood Service, whether they plan to provide alternative transfusion plasma which does not cause transfusion-related acute lung injury more widely to avoid further compensation claims by affected patients; and [HL2551]
In the light of the reported transfusion-related acute lung injury case settled out of court by the 125WA National Blood Service, whether they will now give the risk of transfusion-related acute lung injury from blood transfusion a higher priority and take action to protect patients against the risk of transfusion-related acute lung injury. [HL2552]
§ Baroness Masham of Iltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
In light of the report by the Serious Hazards of Transfusion Scheme of 18 fatal transfusion-related acute lung injury cases over recent years and the potential for compensation for transfusion patients, what steps are currently being taken to protect transfusion patients from this danger. [HL2517]
§ Baroness AndrewsThe reduction of incidents of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) continues to be a high priority for the National Blood Service's (NBS), Blood and Tissue Safety Assurance Group. An NBS project team is carrying out an option appraisal to assess ways of reducing TRALI, working with the Department of Health's Economic and Operational Research Branch. Options under active consideration include sourcing fresh frozen plasma (FFP) exclusively from male donors and the use of an additive solution to reduce the volume of plasma used to suspend pooled platelets. Decisions will be taken later this year. In addition, the criteria in the NBS specification for imported FFP for neonates and children born after 1 January 1996 includes a preference for male donors.
§ Baroness Masham of Iltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Following the recent publication in Blood journal that transfusion-related acute lung injury is an under-reported reaction from plasma transfusions, what steps they have taken to ensure full and effective reporting of all transfusion-related adverse incidents to the Serious Hazards of Transfusion Scheme; and [HL2518]
Whether they are satisfied with the reporting of transfusion-related acute lung injury under the guidance of the Serious Hazards of Transfusion Scheme. [HL2519]
§ Baroness AndrewsIn July 2002 the Department of Health published Health Service Circular 2002/009Better Blood Transfusion—Appropriate Use of Blood (www.doh.gov.uk/publications/coinh.html). The circular asks all National Health Service trusts to ensure participation in the Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) scheme by December 2002. We will be carrying out an audit to review the implementation of this guidance later this year. From the start of the current reporting year, participation in the SHOT scheme by NHS Trusts will be verified by means of a confidential personal identification number. SHOT also encourages awareness of reporting all adverse events, including transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), by holding an annual educational symposium. The SHOT annual report is also widely circulated and available on the SHOT Website (www.SHOT.demon.co.uk).
126WAThe National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) is also beginning to take forward and implement work on improving safety across the NHS including encouraging open and fair reporting of errors so that the NHS can learn from them. We will be looking to SHOT and the NPSA to help us take a more comprehensive approach to improving patient safety in the NHS.
In addition, the new European Blood Directive will, when implemented into UK law, make mandatory the notification by hospitals of "serious adverse reactions observed during or after transfusion which may be attributed to the quality and safety of blood and blood components". This will include TRALI.