AQW 180/16-21

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 27/05/2016
Answered On Date: 08/06/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether she plans to overturn the lifetime ban on the donation of blood by men who have sex with men.

Answer:

On Thursday 2 June, having considered the evidence regarding patient safety, with the agreement of the Executive I decided to end the lifetime ban on blood donation by men who have had sex with men (MSM) and to put in place a twelve-month blood donation deferral for MSM.

The new policy will come into effect on 1 September 2016.

It is important to stress that blood donors comply with any deferral rules that apply to them.