The annual cost of blood transfusions in the UK.

Author: SJ Varney & JF Guest.
Source: Transfusion Medicine 2003; 13: 205-218

ABSTRACT

This study estimated the annual UK cost of blood transfusions in 2000/2001, updating a study we performed in 1994/1995. The analysis was based on published data, information from interviews with National Health Service (NHS) personnel and a structured questionnaire for blood donors. The annual cost of provision and transfusion of blood products increased by 256% real terms, to £898 million in 2000/2001, whereas the number of whole-blood donations increased by 2% to 2.8 million. The number of apheresis donations decreased by 52% to 70,000. Total blood product units issued to hospitals in 2000/2001 increased by 17% and were used in an estimated 1.7 million transfusions. The estimated NHS cost for an adult transfusion was £635 for red blood cells, £378 for fresh frozen plasma, £347 for platelets and £834 for cryoprecipitate. Blood donors incurred an annual direct cost of £8.1 million and 3.1 million hours of used leisure time. There was also an indirect cost of £7.2 million arising from lost productivity. The large increases since 1994/1995 reflect a real increase in expenditure by the blood transfusion services, partly due to the introduction of leucodepletion, greater hospital resource use due to more transfusions being undertaken and under-recording of hospital activity in 1994/1995.