History of the Welsh Blood Service
The United Kingdom (UK) blood services have a worldwide reputation for quality and safety that is second to none and this is built on a system of voluntary, unpaid, blood donation.
The Welsh Blood Service is a unique organisation within the Welsh National Health Service. It shares the commitment of all NHS staff to provide the highest possible professional standards and delivers its work in alliance with the generosity of its altruistic donors who give their blood so that other, unknown persons can have the medical treatment they require.
Beginnings
World War II was the catalyst for the development of the modern blood transfusion service. In 1939 an Army Blood Supply Depot was established in Bristol and four civilian blood banks were opened in and around London.
The initial intention was to provide blood for military and civilian casualties. This proved so successful that in 1940 a further eight regional centres were opened under the supervision of the Emergency Medical Services.
At the end of the war these centres were amalgamated, under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, to form the National Blood Transfusion Service of England and Wales (NBTS) which was established formally on 26 September 1946. Scotland established its own blood transfusion service.
The National Health Service Act 1946 led to the establishment of the NHS in 1948 and consequently the blood transfusion services came under its umbrella.
Evolution
In Wales, the Welsh Blood Service was established as an all-Wales Service in 2016 to provide a national blood and transplantation service to the NHS in Wales. Before 2016, the north and south Wales services were separate and accountable to different authorities. Accountability for the south Wales blood service transferred to the newly devolved Welsh Government in 1999. Blood services for the north Wales region were delivered by NHS Blood and Transplant until 2016 when the all-Wales service was established.
Today, the Welsh Blood Service is an operational division of Velindre University NHS Trust.
