Blood service privatisation slammed

Government plans to privatise parts of the NHS National Blood and Transfusion Service have caused widespread shock.

Health minister Anne Milton has confirmed that an in-depth review will be commissioned into opportunities to make the NHS Blood Service more commercially effective.

Public service unions Unite and UNISON have reacted angrily to the news, with UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis pledging a massive fightback against the plans. “This is crunch time for the blood service. The government wants to open it up to private companies with DHL and Capita already in the frame. The prime motive of these companies is money and we will fight this all the way,” he said.

The government has said it plans to outsource the transportation and storage of blood, but UNISON says that ultimately the whole service is at risk.

A Unite petition opposing privatisation of the service has been signed by 36,000 people from across England and Wales.

Unite assistant general secretary Jennie Bremner said: “People have been shocked to learn the Department of Health is considering allowing the private sector to profit from their blood.

“Donors help save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people every year by giving blood. It’s absolutely wrong for private companies to profit from this very special service.”