Lifetime ban on blood donation lifted today | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

Lifetime ban on blood donation lifted today

The lifetime ban on the donation of blood by men who have had sex with men will be lifted from today and replaced by a one-year deferral.

Michelle_O_NeillThe Health Minister Michelle O’Neill announced the policy change in June this year and today’s announcement will bring the north of Ireland into line with England, Scotland and Wales.

The decision means men whose last sexual contact with another man was more than 12 months ago will be free to donate blood if they meet the other donor selection criteria.

Men who have had anal or oral sex with another man in the past 12 months, with or without a condom, will still not be eligible to donate blood.

In announcing her decision to change to a one-year deferral, Michelle O’Neill said, “As Health Minister my first responsibility in this matter is patient safety. Surveillance data from England, Scotland and Wales and survey evidence from across Britain and the north of Ireland have provided assurance that the risk is lower with a one-year deferral.

She added, “My decision is based on the evidence regarding the safety of donated blood.”

The change will be implemented by the Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS) from today and means the criteria will be in line with other groups who are deferred from giving blood for 12 months due to infection risks associated with sexual behaviours.

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September 2016Michelle O’Neill continued, “Blood donors save lives every day. The need is constant. That’s why donating blood is so important. Many of us would not have loved ones with us today were it not for the selfless acts of others.

“Our blood service is carefully managed to maintain a safe and sufficient supply of blood for transfusions. The safety of donated blood depends on two things: donor selection and the testing of blood.

“Every blood donation is tested for HIV and a number of other organisms. Not even the most advanced tests are 100% reliable, so it is vitally important that every donor complies with all the donor selection rules. These rules are in place to protect the health of donors and of patients who receive blood transfusions,” she added.

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Posted by on Sep 1 2016. Filed under Community, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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