Chamber
Plenary, 18 Dec 2003
18 Dec 2003 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Variant CJD
I congratulate the minister on giving the Parliament such a clear statement of the current situation. It is important that we use the opportunity this morning to reassure the people of Scotland that our blood transfusion systems provide an excellent service. We must take the measures that are necessary to maintain that confidence.
In the light of recent shortages in supplies of blood, will the SNBTS seek—on an emergency basis—to identify people volunteering to give blood who may have had a transfusion in the past so that, on a precautionary basis, blood can be held and processed separately at an early stage? Would not that allow a decision to be made about how any risks will be dealt with when the advisory committee on the microbiological safety of blood and tissues for transplantation has done its work?
The minister talked about the sources of plasma being countries with low risks of variant CJD contamination, such as the USA and Germany. In the light of the possible shortfall in supply, can the minister tell us whether other countries would be in a position to assist us in maintaining the volume of safe blood products? What measures are being taken to ensure the safety of that supply?
In the light of recent shortages in supplies of blood, will the SNBTS seek—on an emergency basis—to identify people volunteering to give blood who may have had a transfusion in the past so that, on a precautionary basis, blood can be held and processed separately at an early stage? Would not that allow a decision to be made about how any risks will be dealt with when the advisory committee on the microbiological safety of blood and tissues for transplantation has done its work?
The minister talked about the sources of plasma being countries with low risks of variant CJD contamination, such as the USA and Germany. In the light of the possible shortfall in supply, can the minister tell us whether other countries would be in a position to assist us in maintaining the volume of safe blood products? What measures are being taken to ensure the safety of that supply?
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
Good morning. The first item of business is a statement by Malcolm Chisholm on the development in variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The minister will take q...
The Minister for Health and Community Care (Malcolm Chisholm):
Lab
I am grateful for the opportunity to inform the Parliament of the circumstances surrounding a blood transfusion incident involving variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob ...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
The minister will now take questions on the issues that were raised in his statement. I will allow about 20 minutes for the process.
Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP):
SNP
I thank the minister for the advance copy of the statement. His prompt decision to make a statement this morning is to be welcomed Given that scientists have...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I thank Shona Robison for those important questions—they go to the heart of the matter.The simple answer to Shona Robison's questions on the advisory committ...
Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
I congratulate the minister on giving the Parliament such a clear statement of the current situation. It is important that we use the opportunity this mornin...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I thank David Davidson for his questions. As I indicated, the SNBTS has begun its work on assessing the implications. I am sure that part of that assessment ...
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
I thank the minister for coming to the chamber to make a statement as soon as practically possible after the statement that was made yesterday in the House o...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
The fact that there has been a gap of a few hours between the two statements is not a major issue. It was more important that we should do all the necessary ...
Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab):
Lab
I thank the minister for his statement, which reminds us of the need to maintain our awareness of this most devastating of conditions and not to be complacen...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I thank Ken Macintosh for drawing the information about Strathclyde to the attention of the Parliament and for speaking about the Human BSE Foundation. I sha...
Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP):
SSP
The minister has correctly emphasised the importance of the safety of our blood supply. He will recognise that at this time of the year in particular there a...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
Although Tommy Sheridan expresses the concern that this case might undermine blood donation, we all hope that it might have the opposite effect. Issues have ...
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP):
SNP
I welcome the minister's timely statement. He says that we will no longer provide blood products except where medically absolutely necessary. Previously, blo...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
The first point that I made on that matter related mainly to blood transfusions given during operations, and I understand that that is an area in which Scotl...
Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con):
Con
The minister and several other members have referred to the current shortage of blood supplies. Given the fact that any further limitations on who is allowed...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I will be in that category soon as well, but it is not for me to give a view on that matter: it is for the clinicians to decide on it. However, I will commun...
Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP):
SSP
We should obviously start by extending our sympathies to the two people in Scotland who are about to be given the news that they may have received contaminat...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I am sure that we all join Carolyn Leckie in extending our sympathies to the two individuals who are involved and, indeed, to all the other individuals and f...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
What information is given to a potential recipient of a blood transfusion, or to someone who is authorised to consent to one on their behalf, so that consent...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
Consent is central, perhaps far more than it was in the past, but I will have to write to Christine Grahame about the precise information that is given.
John Scott (Ayr) (Con):
Con
If we were to stop taking blood for transfusions from those who have received one, how quickly could that be implemented and what implications would it have ...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
That, too, is a central question, and the SNBTS has already started to work on it. The SNBTS is considering the implications of such a change, which will inc...