The Future of Blood in a Changing World: Innovation and Resilience in the UK's Blood Supply
The event explored how the UK can strengthen the resilience and sustainability of its blood and plasma supply amid rising clinical demand and growing geopolitical risks. It aimed to address critical challenges such as declining donor numbers, increasing reliance on plasma imports, particularly from the US, and limited processing capacity.
In our CEO's presentation, 'Blood supply challenges and its impact on patient care' the vital role of plasma-derived therapies, especially immunoglobulin (IG), for over 15,000 people living with primary and secondary immunodeficiencies and other medical conditions was emphasised. The talk highlighted the UK's historic reliance on imported plasma supplies, which had left patients vulnerable to global shortages — as seen clearly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when reduced plasma donations led to delayed treatments and reduced IG doses, impacting patients' health and quality of life.
We also emphasised the urgent need for more plasma collection centres to build long-term security for plasma and IG supplies and the goodwill in the immunodeficiency community to donate plasma.
Read the full report from the event here.
Posted November 2025
