Dai Havard

Labour Party | Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney

MP Questions why Plasma Banned in EU is to be Given to Children Under 6

Merthyr & Rhymney MP Dai Havard has questioned Health Secretary Alan Milburn why Methelene Blue Treated Fresh Frozen Plasma (MBFFP) is to be given to children under 6, when its use has been stopped in Germany, Belgium and Switzerland.

The announcement today to use imported blood that contains MBFFP comes before Mr. Havard has received a reply from the Dept of Health who have been planning since February to introduce MBFFP.

The Dept of Health has not indicated what measures they have taken to test how safe MBFFP is, or why they have ignored EU experience.

Methelene Blue is a cancer causing agent and remains in the plasma when it is used.  This means there is a potential additional risk to patients - many of whom already have cancer.  Statistics show that a third of all blood is used for cancer patients. 

Dai Havard MP says:  “In trying to protect children against ‘mad cow’ disease why are we introducing a possible cancer risk”

Mr. Havard has also questioned if and how NHS Trusts and doctors are required to give patients information on the alternatives to transfusion. Too many transfusions are given when there are good alternatives that give a better quality of care. For example EPO drugs are used much more widely in Europe. 

Dai Havard MP has also written to the Chancellor Gordon Brown asking why the NHS is not freeing-up 200,000 plus of scares hospital bed days, by using these alternatives.

Dai Havard MP says:

“If we are serious about adopting European Standards why are we not using more alternatives and taking a lead from countries such as Germany in good practice and better quality of care.

I agree with importing plasma to help protect against the transmission of vCJD but have fears that the methelene blue that remains in this plasma will introduce a cancer causing agent into children. The methelene blue treatment does nothing to prevent catching vCJD but may swap one problem for another.

The NHS could be laying itself open to massive compensation claims but I don’t want to see the problem in the first place.

We need to ask why so much blood is given especially to children and cancer patients when there are alternative treatments available. Treatments that would be used first elsewhere in Europe. Why not here?”