The annual cost of blood transfusions in the United Kingdom.

Author: JF Guest, V Munro & RF Cookson.
Source: Clinical & Laboratory Haematology 1998; 20, 111-118.

ABSTRACT

This study estimated the annual cost of blood transfusions in the UK during 1994/1995. The analysis was based on published data, information derived from interviews with relevant NHS personnel and a purpose-designed structured questionnaire of blood donors. The cost to the UK’s blood transfusion services of providing blood and blood products for transfusion was £165.5 million in 1994/1995. During this period, 2.75 million conventional donations of whole blood and 144,000 apheresis donations of platelets and plasma were collected: 2.58 million units of red blood cells were issued, resulting in 866,000 red blood cell transfusions; 334,000 units of fresh frozen plasma and 1.16 million units of platelets were issued, resulting in 17,000 and 188,000 isolated plasma and platelet transfusions, respectively. Hospital resource use attributable to providing blood transfusions during 1994/1995 cost the NHS £52.6 million. In total, blood transfusions cost the NHS £218.2 million during 1994/1995. Of this, red blood cell transfusions accounted for 76% of the annual cost, isolated platelet transfusions 16%, isolated plasma transfusions 1% and other products 7%. Donors incurred direct costs of £3.1 million and indirect costs of £11.2 million were accrued due to lost productivity. Additionally, blood donors gave up 2.5 million hours of their leisure time donating blood.