The National Blood Authority (Establishment and Constitution) Order 1993

Functions of the Authority

3.—(1) Subject to and in accordance with such directions as the Secretary of State may give to the Authority (1), the Authority shall perform on behalf of the Secretary of State the functions specified in paragraph (2) of this article and such other functions as the Secretary of State may direct the Authority to perform on her behalf (1).

(2) The functions referred to in paragraph (1) of this article are—

(a) the provision of laboratories for the manufacture of blood products and for other purposes;

(b) the preparation of plasma fractions and other products for therapeutic, diagnostic and other purposes;

(c) research and development in plasma protein fractionation and for other purposes;

(d) the manufacture of blood grouping re-agents and other related re-agents;

(e) the supply of products prepared or manufactured under sub-paragraph (b) or (d) above for the purposes of the health service;

(f) the monitoring of the operation by Regional Health Authorities of the transfusion service, and the provision of advice to the Secretary of State in connection with that service;

(g) the provision of advice to Regional Health Authorities as to the co-ordination of their respective activities in connection with the transfusion service, with a view to securing and maintaining an adequate supply of blood and plasma for the purposes of the health service;

(h) the promotion, by advertisement and otherwise, of the transfusion service, in particular with a view to maintaining an adequate number of persons who are willing to donate blood for the purpose of that service;

(i) the making of arrangements, on behalf of Regional Health Authorities, for the supply under NHS contracts of blood between those Authorities.

(1)

See, in particular, sections 13, 17 and 18 of the National Health Service Act 1977 (c. 49); sections 13 and 18 were amended by paragraphs 33, 38 and 92 of Schedule 1 to the Health Services Act 1980 (c. 53) and by Schedule 10 to the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19) (“the 1990 Act”); section 17 was substituted by paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 to the Health and Social Security Act 1984 (c. 48) and by sections 3(4) and 12(2) of the 1990 Act.