Blood Service Privatisation

[Smashed]

I know it's a wail link but couldn't find anything else.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1357583/...

Anyway I got an email from my union asking to sign a petition to stop this from happening but to be honest I don't really understand what the benefits/disadvantages are and to whom.

Anyone care to explain why this is a bad thing?

[Ewan S]

Advantage:
The company running it earns money by the amount of blood supplied - direct the bloodmobile vans into the local council estate, drain the chavs of their blood, filter it (several times), solve the chav problem and the lack of blood problem at the same time.

I'm surprised the daily mail didn't think of it and replace chavs with "immigrants"...

[Lord Pikey]

Smashed said:

I know it's a wail link but couldn't find anything else.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1357583/...

Anyway I got an email from my union asking to sign a petition to stop this from happening but to be honest I don't really understand what the benefits/disadvantages are and to whom.

Anyone care to explain why this is a bad thing?

I got one too. Unite?

[chris watton]

A few interested parties are already coming forward with a bid....

[Victor McDade]

They should go one step further and make it legal to pay people for blood donations.

[MentalSarcasm]

Victor McDade said:

They should go one step further and make it legal to pay people for blood donations.

I think the problem there is that they have a long list of people who aren't eligible to donate blood because of the associated risks of transferring infection, and offering payment when they've got this long list could open them up to court cases for "discrimination".

As a blood donor I'm less worried about them making money off my blood (although I'd prefer it if they didn't) and more worried about whether some middle manager will be able to understand the concept of saving lives over saving money; "Oh well they've got more of that blood type stored in Yorkshire but you're in Devon and it'll cost a lot to transport, can you find out of anyone closer has got enough of it first and then call me back and ask for it if they don't?"

[Smashed]

Lord Pikey said:

I got one too. Unite?

Yes indeedy.

[Derek Smith]

MentalSarcasm said:

I think the problem there is that they have a long list of people who aren't eligible to donate blood because of the associated risks of transferring infection, and offering payment when they've got this long list could open them up to court cases for "discrimination".

As a blood donor I'm less worried about them making money off my blood (although I'd prefer it if they didn't) and more worried about whether some middle manager will be able to understand the concept of saving lives over saving money; "Oh well they've got more of that blood type stored in Yorkshire but you're in Devon and it'll cost a lot to transport, can you find out of anyone closer has got enough of it first and then call me back and ask for it if they don't?"

Apart from when I was on medication which banned me, I've given blood since my 20s. I'm not happy with the fact that someone will now be getting a massive pay cheque from my generosity. How long before they sell it on the open market and the NHS has to pay a premium for it?

If it is now a 'for profit' exercise I want my cut.

[Life Saab Itch]

chris watton said:

A few interested parties are already coming forward with a bid....

"Branson's Virgin Blood" ?

[Six Fiend]

MentalSarcasm said:

As a blood donor I'm less worried about them making money off my blood (although I'd prefer it if they didn't) and more worried about whether some middle manager will be able to understand the concept of saving lives over saving money; "Oh well they've got more of that blood type stored in Yorkshire but you're in Devon and it'll cost a lot to transport, can you find out of anyone closer has got enough of it first and then call me back and ask for it if they don't?"

That thought is one which crossed my mind too. It's not uncommon for us to get called to run from Bristol to Newcastle (or anywhere else!) with supplies. The national network is epic with not only the NBS drivers but blood couriers like me who are on-call 24-7 to cover what NBS cannot.

NBS cover the blue light runs while we tend to get on with the movement of "not quite so urgent but don't faff about on the way" supplies This is one system you don't want screwed up by "managers".