Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to increase the number of registered (a) blood and (b) bone marrow donors.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), accountable to the Secretary of State for Health, is responsible for the provision of a reliable, efficient supply of blood to the National Health Service in England and North Wales. Blood stocks are currently in a healthy position but there is a continuing need for new donors to fill the gaps left by existing donors who are no longer able to give blood. This ensures that we have the right mix of blood groups to match patients’ needs. NHSBT co-ordinates local and national awareness campaigns, such as the recent ‘Missing Type’ campaign, which are intended to motivate thousands of people to start donating blood.

The Department has provided £16 million new funding to NHSBT and Anthony Nolan since 2012 to improve the provision of stem cells in the United Kingdom. This funding has enabled the recruitment of over 60,000 young male donors who are more likely to be able to donate bone marrow. In addition, there has been targeted recruitment of donors from groups that are currently under-represented in the donor registry. Following the success of the UK Stem Cell Strategy, a further £3 million funding has been announced for this year to support stem cell transplantation and save more lives.