Rule changes mean sex workers can donate blood
CHANGES to the rules on blood donation have come into force in West Lancashire allowing more people to donate – including commercial sex workers.
The Department of Health (DoH) has announced that before every donation, people must complete a donor health check and have a private health screening where they may be asked confidential questions based on their completed form.
Subject to meeting the other donation rules, a number of groups will now be able to donate after three months have passed since the last sexual activity.
This includes commercial sex workers, and men who have had sex with another man.
It also includes people who have had sex with a partner at high risk of having a sexually transmitted infection.
A DoH spokesman said that previously commercial sex workers were permanently excluded from blood donation and the other groups had to wait until 12 months had passed before they could donate.
The rules are now consistent for all groups that are deferred due to sexual behaviours.
The changes were announced in July on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (Sabto).
They officially came into force in England on Tuesday, November 28.
NHS Blood and Transplant’s medical and research director, Dr Gail Miflin, said: “The Sabto review took into account the latest available medical and scientific evidence.
“This included more information about the risk of acquiring infections that can be passed on in blood, more evidence on how well donors comply with our guidelines and also more evidence that supports the reliability of the blood screening tests we use.
“We have one of the safest blood supplies in the world.
“Anyone may require a blood transfusion in the future and so it’s in all our interests to ensure that we work hard to keep blood safe for patients.”