Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if the autologous serum eyedrop service will continue following the abolition of NHS England.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a Special Health Authority, and is responsible for blood donation in England and organ transplantation services in the United Kingdom. It is also responsible for stem cell transplants, tissue, and eye services.

Autologous serum eyedrops (ASE) are manufactured by NHSBT and are supplied to patients who experience severe dryness of the eye and who do not obtain relief from conventional pharmaceutical eyedrops. As such, ASE is supplied to patients following a clinical request from a consultant.

The Government does not anticipate the changes to NHS England will have any impacton the service NHSBT provides regarding ASE.