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Dr Lloyd identified three barriers to Northern RTC achieving plasma targets: limited and outdated facilities, the belief that hospitals needed whole blood rather than red cells, and the RHA's approach to funding plasma collection.

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Dr Lloyd mooted that the RHA may have thought money was better spent on commercial product and that his predecessor might have advised the RHA that BPL had insufficient capacity to process plasma.

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The number of units of blood collected was less than in the previous year in Northern Ireland due to the "effects of the recession with the resulting factory closures and pay-offs".

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The first external inspection of the RTC in Belfast by the Protein Fractionation Centre took place.

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The Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service was granted a manufacturing licence after it had been delayed due to an inadequacy of premises.

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The first inspection by the Medicines Inspectorate of the Belfast RTC took place and thereafter about every two years.

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The NIBTS was collecting over 3,000 plasma donations per annum, representing 10% of the total amount of fresh frozen plasma sent to PFC.

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The NIBTS used telemarketing which involved eligible donors being telephoned immediately prior to donor sessions.

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Dr Morris McClelland noted that blood shortages were not unknown in Northern Ireland and there were occasions where supplies needed to be rationed or elective surgery had to be postponed.

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Dr Morris McClelland attended an annual meeting with Dr Elizabeth Mayne to try to co-ordinate supplies of Factor 8 with usage and demand.

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The closure of factories in the late 1970s and early 1980s made it more challenging to meet targets.

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By this time, the Belfast RTC had increased its output of red cell concentrates from 20% of the units sent out for transfusion to 75-80% in the space of 3 to 4 years.

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In South East Scotland, the role of voluntary blood donor organisers was phased out and there was an increasing role for radio and television advertising.

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The increase in radio and television advertising in Edinburgh and South East Scotland was effective in reversing the dip in donor attendance.

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Attendances and donations increased in South East Scotland.

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Dr Gillon gave evidence to the Inquiry that there was a sharp drop off in blood donor numbers between around 1985 and 1987, which he attributed to the effects of AIDS messaging.

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There was a significant drop in donor attendances Edinburgh and South East Scotland.

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Dr Cash thought that if donor numbers continued to fall, "sometime in mid 1988 the demand for products will exceed plasma supply".

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Dr Cash confirmed that donor attendances had increased following a national media campaign to promote blood donation.

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Dr Cash wrote that blood collection needed to increase "by a further 40,000 donations per annum to meet the many and varied needs of patients in the 1990s".

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