First patients get UK-sourced plasma in generation

The lifesaving medicines, most important of which is immunoglobulin, can only be made from human blood

NHS patients are now receiving lifesaving medicines made from the blood plasma of UK donors for the first time in 25 years after a long-standing ban was lifted.

Oxfordshire blood donors are playing a part in the "landmark moment", which will reduce the UK's reliance on imported products.

Abigail Hessey from Bicester said it had saved the life of her daughter Bella who has a rare heart condition.

Dr Susan Walsh, CEO of Immunodeficiency UK, said they "urge" people in the county to try blood donation.

The antibodies in plasma are separated out of red blood cells and used for lifesaving medicines

The lifesaving medicines, most important of which is immunoglobulin, can only be made from human blood.

Plasma makes up 55% of it and contains antibodies which strengthen or stabilise the immune system.

The antibodies are separated out and made into medicines which treat people with life limiting illnesses such as immune deficiencies.

The NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), which provides England-wide blood, plasma and platelet donation service and organ donation service for the UK, said that across Oxfordshire, hundreds of people receive immunoglobulin each year.

It added that over the past three years, local blood donors had supplied about "5,000 litres of plasma, enough to make around 2,200 bottles of immunoglobulin, which is enough to save or improve around 60 lives a year".

NHSBT said the new supply would "bolster supplies to the NHS", which is important in the face of the global shortage of plasma medicines.

Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director NHS England, said the "landmark moment" ensured patients relying on crucial plasma-derived medicines "will always have access to the treatment they need".

The UK banned the use of domestically collected plasma in 1998, following concerns over a potential increase of recipients getting Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

The ban was lifted in February 2021.

'Positive difference'

Abigail Hessey said it was "a relief" to know plasma was now collected from local blood donations as her daughter Bella (in the pink top) benefitted from immunoglobulin for a rare heart disease

The first patient to be given UK-sourced plasma was Jill Jones, who received the medicine at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

She was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, 20 years ago and receives treatment every three weeks.

"Transfusions have been life-changing for me in keeping me well," Ms Jones said.

"Before I started on them, I was regularly in hospital with infections - which just doesn't happen now.

Ms Hessey, 28, said her daughter had been diagnosed for Kawasaki disease as a baby.

The potentially fatal condition, where the blood vessels around the heart can be damaged, includes symptoms such as a whole-body rash, red eyes and a high temperature.

Bella received immunoglobulin, the effect of which was "instant".

"Straight away, her colour came back to normal. By the next morning, she was eating and her fever had completely gone," Ms Hessey said.

"It saved her life. We were very lucky that we had such amazing doctors at the JR.

"It's a relief to know we're now making it from local blood donations too."

Donation can also be made at three specialist sites in Birmingham, London and Reading.