Question reference: S2W-22857
- Asked by: Carolyn Leckie, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Socialist Party
- Date lodged: 1 February 2006
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Current status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 23 February 2006
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has learned any lessons from the fact that NHS Scotland has not implemented the Council of Europe Recommendation No. R (83) 8 on the prevention of possible transmission of AIDS to patients receiving blood or blood products.
Answer
Council of Europe recommendation R (83) 8 makes a number of recommendations in relation to AIDS. The recommendations dealt with the use of coagulation factor products prepared from large plasma pools; informing patients and recipients of the risks of blood products, and providing blood donors with information. Policy in Scotland in relation to blood products fully reflected these principles and recommendations. The risks of large plasma pools were recognised and appropriate warnings were provided on products. Clear warnings were also provided to blood donors by Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) in 1983, specifically in relation to AIDS.
An earlier Council of Europe Recommendation No. R (80) 5, concerning blood products for the treatment of haemophiliacs, was discussed with Scottish Haemophilia Directors and Directors of The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service at a meeting organised by the Scottish Health Department in 1981, at which it was agreed that “policy and practice in Scotland were consistent with this document, subject to further consideration of the recommendation on the setting up of a haemophilia register”. It is believed that policy and practice in Scotland were also consistent with the subsequent Recommendation No. R (83) 8 concerning AIDS.