Blood donor sessions in Kent ports axed over fears of Brexit transport gridlock
Blood donation sessions in Channel ports have been suspended before and after Brexit amid fears the local transport system could grind to a halt.
NHS Blood and Transport (NHSBT) said that sessions in Dover and Folkestone had been cancelled in the two weeks before March 29 and the six weeks afterwards.
Fears have been raised in recent months other the impact on Kent of a no-deal Brexit, with the Government preparing for heavy queues at ports and the Channel Tunnel if customs checks have to be re-introduced.
We have taken the decision to cancel blood donation sessions in Dover and Folkestone for a 2 week period before and a 6 week period after Britain’s exit from the EU. This is because in the event of issues in Calais and other freight ports, this could lead to significant (1/2)
— GiveBlood 🅰️🅱️🆎🅾️ (@GiveBloodNHS) January 29, 2019
In a statement, NHSBT confirmed it was cancelling donation events because of the impact on staff.
It said: “This is because in the event of issues in Calais and other freight ports, this could lead to significant traffic in Kent and may prevent donation teams from reaching or leaving venues in the area.
“We will hold replacement sessions at other locations and we will still be in a position to provide the necessary blood to hospitals.”
Labour’s Virendra Sharma, a Best for Britain supporter, said: “It is an absolute disgrace that the Government’s no-deal contingency planning is interrupting life-saving blood donations.
“The Government’s reckless behaviour could cost lives.
“The Prime Minister must put a stop to this madness and rule out a disastrous no-deal immediately.”
