First NHS patients now receiving medicine made from the blood plasma of Cheshire blood donors

NHS patients around the country are now receiving a lifesaving medicine made from the plasma of blood donors in Cheshire.

This 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 per cent 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.

The most important medicine is immunoglobulin. In Cheshire, hundreds of people receive immunoglobulin each year. The first patients are now receiving the medicines.

Over the past three years, blood donors in Cheshire have supplied around 5,000 litres of plasma in total, enough to make around 2,400 bottles of immunoglobulin, and enough to save or improve the lives of around 65 people over 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. It will reduce reliance on imports, which can be hit by reductions in supply and prices spikes.

There are two ways that you can give plasma. Every time you give blood in Cheshire, your plasma may be used too. Or you can donate plasma at three specialist sites in Birmingham, London and Reading. 

A recovered plasma donation gives us around 270 millilitres of plasma, whereas a plasma donation can give us between 560 millilitres and 700 millilitres.

Joe Keary from Chester City centre welcomed the news because he has received intravenous immunoglobulin all his life due to a life-threatening immune disorder.

The 24-year-old has Common Variable Immune Disorder, which means he lacks the normal antibodies to fight off infections.

He welcomed the news that people were now getting plasma medicine thanks to Cheshire 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 Joe.

“I am so grateful to everyone who donates blood. You are not just helping people with your red blood cells – now the plasma in your blood donation is helping people too.”

Without medication, Joe is at constant risk of everyday infections becoming severe and causing potentially deadly complications.

The antibodies in the donor plasma help him fight off bacteria and viruses.

He was diagnosed as a baby. Despite treatment, he has still had serious complications in the past such as chronic bacterial lung infection and bronchiectasis – abnormally widened lungs.

Joe said:

“I was constantly getting infections as a baby, and I was back and forth to hospitals including Great Ormond Street, so I was diagnosed really young.

“People have no idea I have it when they see me. Some of my friends at uni don’t even know, to the naked eye everything seems completely normal.

“I am so grateful to the people who donate and I always encouraging people to donate blood. It’s one of those things were people are in blissful ignorance, they don’t think about it, until it happens to yourself or someone you know. I would ask anybody who can do it, to do it.”

Claire Douglas, 45, from Wistaston in Crewe, receives immunoglobulin as a treatment for common variable immune deficiency.

She was diagnosed with the illness as a child and has received treatment since she was nine years old.

“I remember feeling tired all the time (my mum has said she had to take me to school in a pushchair sometimes!) and getting repeat infections, and I ended up feeling quite isolated,” said Claire, a married mum who work as an administration assistant.

“I had the first treatment on a children’s ward and it made a huge difference.

“Plasma changes a lot of people lives and it reduces the chances of infections causing organ damage in the body for people with my condition as it affects several parts of the body.

“I am so glad that people like me can now get immunoglobulin made from UK blood donations. It will help make supplies more secure as it won't have to be shipped as far.”

Claire started on intravenous treatment and changed to subcutaneous Treatment in 2010.

Daniel Cooper, NHSBT Assistant Director for Blood Donation Operations, said: 

“Thanks to our amazing blood and plasma donors in Cheshire 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.”

Dr Susan Walsh, the Chief Executive Officer of Immunodeficiency UK, said:

“This is a historic moment – patients from Cheshire can now get lifesaving and life-improving immunoglobulin medicine made from the plasma of UK blood and plasma donors.

“Immunoglobulins recognise dangerous micro-organisms and help the immune cells to neutralise them. It’s a vital treatment for people with immune disorders.

“We urge people in Cheshire to try blood donation. Your red blood cells will be used as normal. But now the blood plasma can also help vulnerable people with immune disorders.”

The NHS needs more blood donors.

Go to www.blood.co.uk to become a donor. 

• NHS Blood and Transplant is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority. We provide the blood, plasma and platelet donation service for England and the organ donation service for the UK. We also provide donated tissues, stem cells and cord blood. NHSBT carries out world leading research and provides a range of advanced clinical services for the healthcare sector. We are an essential part of the NHS, saving and improving lives.
• Plasma is part of your blood. It’s the liquid which carries everything around the body. When donated, it is a yellow colour. Plasma is rich in antibodies, which are part of your immune system, and other important proteins such as albumin.
• During plasma donation, a machine gradually separates out 700mls of plasma from blood. Donation takes about 35 minutes and the whole visit – including questionnaires and snacks - takes around one hour. There are plasma donor centres in Reading, Twickenham, and Birmingham.
• Plasma can also be recovered from normal blood donations, to provide another source of supply.