The Health and Social Care Minister, Baroness Merron, visited Watford General Hospital yesterday (Thursday, March 6) where patients are amongst the first in the country to receive lifesaving medicines made from the plasma of UK donors.
The plasma-derived products, which will be rolled out nationwide over the coming weeks, mark the first time in 25 years that UK-sourced plasma has been used for this purpose.
Around 17,000 NHS patients with immune deficiencies and rare diseases rely on vital human donated plasma to save or improve their lives, which are also used in Emergency Medicine for childbirth and trauma care.
Baroness Merron was joined on the visit by Professor Sir Stephen Powis, National Medical Director of NHS England, and Dr Jo Farrar, Chief Executive of NHS Blood and Transplant.
They talked to staff and patients at the Helen Donald Unit, which provides care for people with weaker immune systems and require regular intravenous therapy.
Dean Ward, 51, from Hemel Hempstead, who was one of two patients receiving the plasma, said he had been coming for regular treatment for two years for a rare neurology condition which damages the nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to the muscles.
“This treatment has saved my life. I spent seven months in a hospital bed and couldn’t move. I couldn’t do anything.
“It means I can now move around and get home. I’m a regular on the ward and know the staff well. I’m to blame for bringing all the chocolate in. They’re a great team and look after me very well."
During the two-hour tour, the minister also met the team behind the Trust’s award-winning virtual hospital. The facility has freed up thousands of beds over that period by caring for some patients from the comfort of their own homes using monitoring technology and specialist support.
Speaking after the visit, Baroness Merron said: “It was wonderful to meet staff and patients today and to see for myself how plasma treatment can change people’s lives.
“As part of our Plan for Change, we are improving access to life-saving treatments for thousands of NHS patients and strengthening healthcare security.
“West Herts is a key example of this – delivering high-quality care for the patients, through the passion and hard work of their staff.”
Matthew Coats, Chief Executive of West Herts, said: “It was a pleasure to host the Minister today and to showcase some of the brilliant, innovative work our teams are involved in.
“We shared with Baroness our approach to improving patient safety, driving down waiting times, and how we’re embracing technology to care for more of our patients from their own home. "
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Notes to editors
- In January, the Trust was ranked as the 8th best for in the country for A&E waiting times out of 121 Trusts – with four out of five patients (80.3%) being treated within the four-hour target. Just over two years ago, the Trust was in 102nd place for its A&E performance.
- This came despite a surge in demand for care with winter illnesses like flu and norovirus, high bed occupancy and difficulties discharging patients adding further pressures to services.
- Cancer and planned treatment have also improved significantly over the last year at West Herts, which covers a population of over 600,000 people including Watford, Hemel and St Albans. Almost all cancer patients (98.6%) started their treatment within 31 days of a agreeing a treatment plan with their doctor in December (15th best in England).
- And for patients with an urgent suspected cancer referral, most (87.2%) were treated within two months, ranking West Herts in 6th place nationally.
- For routine, non-urgent conditions, 61.6% of patients starting treatment within 18 weeks of being referred (39th ranked), compared to just over 52% in April 2024 (95th ranked).