Current Petitions

PE1204, by Jessie Colson, on behalf of the Richard Colson Severe Aplastic Anemia Fund, is on support for bone marrow services and the encouragement of more donors, particularly in light of the situation faced by Richard Colson over the years. I invite comments from members. We have explored the petition previously to a lengthy degree. I hope that we can now consider closing it. Are members willing to close it on the ground of the dialogue that has been opened up on the issue, which will hopefully mean that there is something more for individuals who are facing what Jessie Colson had to face?We have had responses back from the Government on actions that the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service is taking forward. There is a willingness to look at approaches taken in other European countries. I hope that there will be continuing dialogue between the petitioner and the SNBTS.

If the petitioner still has concerns a number of years down the track, what would be the position on bringing the petition back? Would that be possible? What is the timeframe involved?

The petition could be brought back. There are limitations on bringing it back within a year, unless there is something substantially different in it. We would be quite happy to work with the petitioner if she wanted to bring it back.

That information could be given to the petitioner.

It is worth saying that the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, along with the Anthony Nolan Trust, is doing a lot of work on a number of the issues that the petitioner raised. The issue is moving forward and we should commend the work that those organisations are doing. That is part of the reason why we can close the petition.

The Government is actively studying a means of increasing recruitment to the bone marrow bank. It has stated that it will continue to encourage work to raise awareness of it and increase registration, through its support of SNBTS.

Thanks for that. We will close the petition on the grounds indicated. Is that okay?Members indicated agreement.