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Aug 2021
Blood supplies from England to be used to make life-saving drug
Following a rule change to reduce reliance on imported stocks, plasma from blood donations in England will be used to make a vital medicine.
Each year, around 17,000 people require immunoglobulin treatment and until recently, there was a ban on the use of plasma from UK donors to safeguard against vCJD or “mad cow disease”.
Officials now say this precaution is no longer necessary.
The move will help secure NHS plasma stocks make the antibody-based medicines, known as immunoglobulins. Rollout of the service will commence across England over the coming months and NHS blood donor services elsewhere in the UK could opt to do the same.
The UK currently relies only on plasma imports, which can be in short supply and is a situation which has been made worse by Covid.
NHS Blood and Transport’s Gerry Gogarty, welcomed the decision, saying “By recovering plasma from blood donations, we can improve long-term supplies of immunoglobulin medicine, and each generous blood donation will go even further in helping to save the lives.
“Your blood is mostly made up of plasma and it contains the antibodies which fight infections. Those antibodies can save the lives of people with faulty immune systems.”
The treatment can be used to help people who are unable to make antibodies themselves, or in circumstances where their bodies are not producing enough antibodies, as well as for disorders when the body’s immune system is attacking itself.
Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.
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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Freephone : 0800 304 7382
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