1.2 Organisation of the UK Blood and Tissue Services - Introduction

There are four national UK Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services (UKBTS):

NHSBT

NHS Blood and Transplant

A Special Health Authority within the NHS, providing blood and tissues services in England and North Wales, and organs for the whole of the UK.

SNBTS

Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service

Managed by NHS National Services Scotland.

WBS

Welsh Blood Service

Provided and managed by Velindre University NHS Trust.

NIBTS

Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service

Managed by the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Special Agency.

The UKBTS are Blood Establishments.

Following devolution of governments in the UK, the UK Forum was established in 1999 comprising the chief executives and medical directors of the four UKBTS. JPAC became accountable to the medical directors, who themselves are accountable to their chief executives. The close working relationship with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) South Mimms Laboratories (formerly the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control; NIBSC) has been maintained through the Director of MHRA South Mimms Laboratories.