NHS pays £50m for US blood plasma firm

The Department of Health has bought an American blood supplier to ensure long term delivery to the NHS, it will confirm today.

In the first move of its kind, the Government has paid around £50 million to buy Life Resources Incorporated, which will supply around 45 per cent of blood plasma needs for the NHS.

The company is the largest remaining independent US plasma collector and a spokeswoman for the department said the move was for the benefit of NHS patients.

The spokeswoman said the decision to buy the company was taken as it was "the most cost-effective means to make sure we have long term supplies of non-UK blood plasma".

The NHS has been using US-based supplies since 1998 as part of efforts to reduce the risk of the spread of variant CJD.

The US is seen as the only country able to supply the quantity of blood plasma needed in the NHS without the risk of vCJD.

The spokeswoman said: "It was felt in order to make sure there was enough plasma, the best thing to do was to actually buy the company and make sure the supply continues.

"The decision is for the benefit of NHS patients."