LETTER : A more efficient blood service

Mr John Adey
Friday 13 October 1995 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

From Mr John Adey

Sir: Your article "Blood service crisis as staff exodus bites" (9 October) contains several inaccuracies. We are not proposing to close any blood centres. All existing centres would remain open but the processing and testing of blood donations, currently conducted in all 15 centres, will be consolidated in 10.

The proposals for reorganising the service came not from independent consultants but from working groups of blood service staff. Outside consultants were used to analyse data. The aim of the proposals is not "to trim pounds 10m from the annual budget" but to produce a blood service that is even more safe, reliable and efficient.

Your claims about staff losses imply that centres are understaffed or contain inappropriately qualified personnel. This is not the case and the blood service continues to maintain its usual high standard.

Finally the NHS is not making money out of blood donors. The amount of blood collected is determined by the needs of hospitals to provide transfusions. The plasma from blood donations can also be used to manufacture blood products such as Factor VIII and albumin for use in the treatment of patients. If a surplus of any blood product remains after satisfying NHS demand then it may be offered for sale abroad. The receipts from such sales come back into the NHS and offset the cost to the taxpayer of manufacturing the product. Donors have always indicated that the sale abroad of any surplus is preferable to the alternative, which is to burn it.

Yours sincerely,

John Adey

Chief Executive

National Blood Service

Watford, Hertfordshire

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in