Current Petitions

Petition PE687 was lodged by Ms Geva Blackett, on behalf of Millie's Campaign and Ms Katie McCulloch, on behalf of the Anthony Nolan Trust. The petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to run a campaign encouraging the donation of bone marrow and blood stem cells through a bone marrow register and to recognise and support organisations that recruit bone marrow donors.At its meeting on 29 September, the committee agreed to invite the Minister for Health and Community Care to comment on responses from the petitioner and the Anthony Nolan Trust. The committee also asked whether the Executive intends to publicise the donation of bone marrow and blood stem cells at blood donation centres and doctors' surgeries throughout the country. In his response, the minister says that the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service"has recently reviewed its policy on the recruitment of bone marrow donors and has agreed that this should be changed so that new blood donors would be invited to also become bone marrow donors. SNBTS hope to be in a position to introduce this change in the near future and will produce information leaflets to raise awareness of the facility."The minister also said:"the Executive, SNBTS and NHSScotland recognise and appreciate the importance of the work of the Anthony Nolan Trust and have taken on board the concerns which have been expressed in relation to the need to raise awareness and recruit more bone marrow donors in Scotland."Do members have views on the petition?

The minister's response was very helpful. I am glad that SNBTS is taking the action that his letter describes, which meets the points that the petitioners raised. We should close the petition.

Do members agree to close the petition?Members indicated agreement.