Blood claims spark donation fears

Blood donations could be affected by the claims

Blood transfusion chiefs are concerned that people could be put off donating by reports of millions of pounds of blood being destroyed.

It has been reported that the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service had destroyed £20m of blood products.

However bosses at the SNBTS insisted that all the blood donated by Scots was used to help treat patients.

They added that £900,000 of blood plasma products had to be destroyed following quality control concerns.

Plasma products

A spokeswoman for the SNBTS said they were concerned that people could be put off giving blood.

She said: "We need 1,000 donors every day to come forward and give blood and we have a fear now that blood donors will read this headline and say: 'We're pouring blood down the drain'."

The spokeswoman added: "Blood collected in Scotland for transfusion is used for the benefit of Scottish patients.

"The blood donors give in Scotland is used for transfusions and not for making any other blood products."

We have been given an absolute assurance from SNBTS that only blood plasma products which could not be used have been disposed of Scottish Executive spokesman

The spokeswoman explained the service had previously made plasma products from blood donated by Scots, but added this had not happened since 1998.

The SNBTS now buys in ready-made plasma products such as albumin, which is used to help blood clot, and intravenous immuglobulin, which is used in pregnancy for babies at risk of septicaemia.

The spokeswoman said: "We have identified approximately £900,000 worth of product that needs disposal."

These came from the Protein Fractonation Centre in Edinburgh, where production was voluntarily suspended in January 2006 after an inspection by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The spokeswoman added that alternative supplies of plasma products would ensure there was no impact on patients.

Valuable resources

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said: "We have been given an absolute assurance from SNBTS that only blood plasma products which could not be used have been disposed of.

"For obvious safety reasons it is not possible to offer quarantined or out-of-date products for use and it is completely irresponsible for anyone to suggest otherwise."

SNP health spokeswoman Shona Robison said: "At a time when we have a nationwide shortage of donors it is completely disgraceful that valuable resources like this are being destroyed.

"Clearly, we need to get to the bottom of exactly what has been going on at this centre.

"That's why I have written to the health minister asking for a full enquiry to get more answers, address the long term future of this facility and ensure that taxpayers money is not being wasted."