Joe Keary, a patient at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital receiving plasma
NHS patients around the country are now receiving a lifesaving medicine made from the plasma of blood donors in Surrey.
The historic milestone marks the first time in a quarter of a century plasma is being used to make life-saving medicines for NHS patients, reducing reliance on imports.
These lifesaving medicines can only be made from human blood.
Plasma makes up 55% of our blood 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.
Over the past three years, plasma from blood donors in Surrey and across England has been stored up, and it has now been made into medicines through a weeks long manufacturing process.
The first patients are now receiving the medicines. The most important medicine is immunoglobulin. In Surrey and Sussex, more than 600 people receive immunoglobulin each year. In the last reported year, 68 patients received immunoglobulin at Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and 204 patients received it at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Over the past three years, blood donors in Surrey have supplied around 9,000 litres of plasma, enough to make around 4,000 bottles of immunoglobulin, which is enough to save or improve around 130 lives a year.
In England, around 17,000 people rely on immunoglobulin to save or improve their lives each year. And thousands of patients rely on albumin, another plasma medicine, which is used in childbirth, trauma, and to treat liver conditions.
The news is important because there is a global shortage of plasma medicines.
The NHS has previously relied solely on imported plasma medicines as a lasting legacy of Variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease.
The new supply of UK plasma medicines will bolster supplies to the NHS.
A recovered plasma donation gives us around 270 millilitres of plasma, whereas a plasma donation can provide between 560 millilitres and 700 millilitres.
Janice Evans from Leatherhead needed plasma medicine after she was left paralysed from the waist down by a neurological disorder.
The 71-year-old developed Guillain-Barre syndrome in September 2018.
She’s welcomed the news that people were now getting plasma medicine thanks to Surrey blood donors.
“I know firsthand how important these medicine help save lives. It’s a relief to know we’re now making it from local blood donations too,” said Janice.
Janice, a retired council employee, was left ill and spent six weeks in St George’s Hospital in Tooting, receiving two immunoglobulin treatments.
“I got up one morning and my legs went from under me,” said Janice.
“It was absolutely awful, it was frightening.”
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a very rare and serious condition where the body’s immune system attacks its nerves.
It mainly affects the feet, hands and limbs, causing problems such as numbness, weakness and pain.
Most people will eventually make a full recovery, although it can occasionally be life-threatening and some people are left with long-term problems.
Janice temporarily lost the use of her legs up to the waist then had IVIG treatment over five days.
“It helped me make a full recovery,” said Janice. “It took me a year to get over it but I am fine now.”
She added: “I would certainly encourage people to donate. If anybody else is in hospital like I was, it can help them. I gave blood for as long as I could. I am all for donation.”
Daniel Cooper, NHSBT Assistant Director for Blood Donation Operations, said: “Thanks to our amazing blood and plasma donors in Surrey and across England, for the first time in a quarter of a century, patients are now receiving plasma medicines made from donations taken in England.
“We need more blood donors to help make more of these medicines and build UK self-sufficiency. Your donation is now helping save lives in new ways. Go to blood.co.uk to become a donor.”
