Written questions

Blood: Donors

2026-05-17 · Department of Health and Social Care · 2144 · Official question

Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of the enhanced pre-donation testing process pilot on reducing the number of deferrals for low haemoglobin levels.

Answer

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England. NHSBT tests donors’ haemoglobin (Hb) to ensure they are at sufficient levels to safely donate.NHSBT rolled out a second line of Hb testing, venous HemoCue, between April and Se...