Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the size of the blood stock across the National Blood Transfusion Service.

NHS Blood and Transplant which is accountable to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is responsible for the provision of a safe, reliable, efficient supply of blood to hospitals in England.

NHS Blood and Transplant aims to retain six days’ supply of blood at any one time. This is in addition to the stock held within hospitals, which is typically five – six days’ stock. As at 23 March, NHS Blood and Transplant had eight days’ supply of blood, including donations being processed.

The situation is being monitored daily and NHS Blood and Transplant is working closely with the Department, NHS England and NHS Improvement, Public Health England, hospitals and the United Kingdom blood services.

It is more vital than ever for those blood donors who are well, to keep donating so hospitals have the blood they need to treat very sick and vulnerable patients.