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6th March 2025
Posted by Aston Avery
NHS patients around the country are now receiving a lifesaving medicine made from the plasma of blood donors in Essex.
This historic milestone marks the first time in a quarter of a century plasma is being used to make life-saving medicines for NHS patients, reducing reliance on imports.
These lifesaving medicines can only be made from human blood. Plasma makes up 55 per cent of our blood and contains antibodies which strengthen or stabilise the immune system.
The antibodies are separated out and made into medicines which treat people with life limiting illnesses such as immune deficiencies.
Over the past three years, plasma from blood donors in Essex and across England has been stored up, and it has now been made into medicines through a weeks long manufacturing process. The first patients are now receiving the medicines.
The most important medicine is immunoglobulin. In Essex, hundreds of people receive immunoglobulin each year.
Over the past three years, blood donors in Essex have supplied around 12,000 litres of plasma in total, enough to make around 5,400 bottles of immunoglobulin, which is enough to save or improve the lives of around 140 people over a year.
In England, around 17,000 people rely on immunoglobulin to save or improve their lives each year. And thousands of patients rely on albumin – another plasma medicine – which is used in childbirth, trauma, and to treat liver conditions.
The news is important because there is a global shortage of plasma medicines. The NHS has previously relied solely on imported plasma medicines as a lasting legacy of Variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease.
The new supply of UK plasma medicines will bolster supplies to the NHS. It will reduce reliance on imports, which can be hit by reductions in supply and prices spikes.
There are two ways that you can give plasma. Every time you give blood in Essex, your plasma may be used too. Or you can donate plasma at three specialist sites in Birmingham, London and Reading.
A recovered plasma donation gives us around 270 millilitres of plasma, whereas a plasma donation can give us between 560 millilitres and 700 millilitres.
Leanne Preedy, 37, from Ongar in Essex, and her two children, all rely of medicine made from blood plasma.
They all have Common Variable Immune Disorder CVID – their bodies do not make enough antibodies to fight infections.
They get immunoglobulin, a medicine made from the plasma of blood donors, which contains the antibodies they need.
Leanne welcomed the news that immunoglobulin made from the plasma of English blood donors is now reaching patients.
“Thousands of people rely on immunoglobulin to have any quality of life – or even to stay alive – and we have relied on expensive imported immunoglobulin for a long time.”
She said.
“It’s great that now blood donors are also helping people like us – I can’t thank them enough and urge people to try blood donation.”
Leanne has been receiving the treatment for more than 30 years.
Her two children, daughter Ravella, 9, and son Hudson, 5, inherited the condition and are under the care of Great Ormond Street Hospital.
“The infusions are very easy and comfortable thanks to amazing nurses.”
Said Leanne, who is married.
“Ravella is beautiful, independent, incredibly courageous and loves the outdoors. Hudson is very adorable, kind natured and shy.
“I hope to show them how to enjoy life just like everyone else. I understand everything they are experiencing because I’ve been through it all myself. I want them to love, laugh and live really happy lives.”
She added:
“Our immune condition is invisible, people wouldn’t have any idea that we live with a lifelong condition that can be very difficult to manage at times. I really try to focus on our diet and nutrition to support our immune systems. Managing school and the illnesses that come with that during winter especially can be very difficult indeed. No one really sees that side of our life.”
Ravella has been told her family’s situation is very rare.
“I’ve spoken with the doctors at Great Ormond Street and asked on Facebook support forms for immune disorders, but no-one else knows of UK parent and two children all diagnosed. The closest family I’ve found where parent and all children are affected was a family in America.”
She added:
“I owe donors so much and thank you will never ever be enough. I hope I can raise my children to be as kind and thoughtful as donors are. Without immunoglobulin, life would be unliveable, quite frankly.
“I wouldn’t be able to be a mother, play with my children, teach them things, be their support, carer and mummy. I wouldn’t be able to simple things such as read and laugh with them.”
Richard Holland, 36, from Wickford in Essex, welcomed this news because he received immunoglobulin during his treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia.
He developed secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) during his first round of chemotherapy, in February 2020.
HLH is a rare condition where your immune system begins attacking your own body.
It can develop as a secondary illness in response to an infection or an immune problem.
“I know firsthand how important theses medicine are to helping save lives.”
Said Richard.
“It’s a relief to know we’re now making it from local blood donations too.
“I am so grateful to everyone who donates blood.
“You are not just helping people with your red blood cells – now the plasma in your blood donation is helping people too.”
Richard said:
“I had severe rigors and difficulty breathing.
“It was very worrying. every breath became heavier and more difficult.
“I was transferred to ITU and have little memory of my initial time there.
“I had a build-up of fluid, developed pneumonia and became haemodynamically unstable. My body could not fight off infection and was effectively attacking itself.
“My parents were told I may not have long left.”
Richard’s immunoglobulin treatment began while he was in intensive care.
The antibodies in immunoglobulin can stabilise a malfunctioning immune system.
“Immunoglobulin probably saved my life, it helped my immune system back to normal function.”
Said Richard. He added:
“If you’re thinking about donating for the first time, please do it. You’ll be making a huge difference or even saving someone’s life.
“It’s something relatively small and simple but can have a huge impact for the recipient.”
Daniel Cooper, NHSBT Assistant Director for Blood Donation Operations, said:
“Thanks to our amazing blood and plasma donors in Essex and across England, for the first time in a quarter of a century, patients are now receiving plasma medicines made from donations taken in England.
“We need more blood donors to help make more of these medicines and build UK self-sufficiency. Your donation is now helping save lives in new ways. Go to blood.co.uk to become a donor.”
Dr Susan Walsh, the Chief Executive Officer of Immunodeficiency UK, said:
“This is a historic moment – patients from Essex can now get lifesaving and life-improving immunoglobulin medicine made from the plasma of UK blood and plasma donors.
“Immunoglobulins recognise dangerous micro-organisms and help the immune cells to neutralise them. It’s a vital treatment for people with immune disorders.
“We urge people in Essex to try blood donation. Your red blood cells will be used as normal. But now the blood plasma can also help vulnerable people with immune disorders.”
• The NHS needs more blood donors. Go to www.blood.co.uk to become a donor.