Government overrules NHS cancellation of blood donations in Kent port towns over Brexit gridlock fears

Ministers have overruled an NHS decision to cancel blood donation sessions in Dover and Folkestone over two months while Britain leaves the European Union.

Patients who had been set to give blood in the two weeks before the UK’s departure date on 29 March and six weeks afterwards have already been told to reschedule.

NHS blood donation officials said this was due to fears that traffic in Kent will be brought to a standstill by additional customs checks at Channel ports – preventing staff getting to and from sessions.

But after the story was reported, the government, which is preparing to turn parts of the M20 into a giant lorry park to limit Brexit gridlock, said it had not been consulted and sessions would continue as normal.

It is not clear if patients will be told to attend their original sessions or will have to rebook after being told traffic disruption would prevent blood being transported in or out.

“My partner just had a call from NHS Blood Donation, cancelling her April appointment, because they’re shutting down in Kent port towns between mid-March and May, anticipating that Operation Stack on the M20 will prevent them from moving staff in or blood out,” Marc Morris wrote on Twitter.

NHS Blood and Transplant had clarified that only six sessions would be cancelled, with additional collections due to run at other venues and no impact anticipated on local hospitals.

Mike Stredder, director of blood donation, had originally said: “We have taken the decision to cancel donation sessions in Dover and Folkestone for a two-week period before and for six weeks after Britain’s exit from the EU.

“This is because, in the event of issues at Calais and other freight ports, Operation Stack may be put in place by Highways England and the Kent Police.

“This could lead to significant traffic in Kent and may prevent donation teams from reaching venues in the area or a donation leaving.”

But a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson responded: “The department does not agree with this course of action. We’ve discussed this issue with NHSBT and confirmed blood donations will continue as normal.

“We’re grateful to all lifesaving blood donors who make an important contribution.”

The department has previously warned that disruption at major ports could last six months in a no-deal scenario and that medicines and other essentials may have to be flown in to avoid blocks at ports.

Earlier this week, after supermarkets warned that a no-deal Brexit could leave shelves bare of food, health secretary Matt Hancock said that medicines would be “prioritised over food”.

Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s shadow health secretary, said: “Yet again we learn of more disastrous consequences of Theresa May’s hopeless mishandling of Brexit. It’s utterly shocking that blood donations in Kent have been cancelled.”

This article was updated at 18.51 on 29 January after the government announced it would be overruling the NHS decision to cancel blood donations