Earlier this month, it was announced that Jersey Blood Service, the Island’s only donor centre, would close temporarily so that work can take place to ensure that its facilities are brought up to EU standards.
Now, in the event that stocks of blood are unable to reach the Island, Health Minister Andrew Green has agreed to renew the States’ licence to collect and prepare blood locally for six months, should they need to, until upgrade work has been completed.
A report outlining the ministerial decision stated that the centre’s current licence expired on 31 January.
It said: ‘On expiry of the current licence routine collection and production of blood components is to be temporarily suspended while an upgrade of facilities is undertaken, during this period blood will be sourced from the UK.
‘However, in order to provide resilience in the event that supplies are disrupted the ability to collect blood and produce blood components locally needs to be maintained.’
