MP John Healey is supporting calls for a review into the block on gay men giving blood.
The campaign is being led by Freedom to Donate, which wants a review into the blood donation referral criteria through the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs.
Mr Healey has written to the Health Secretary asking him to consider the review:
Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP
Secretary of State, Department of Health
17 July 2015
Dear Jeremy
You will know that there is a lot of anger at the ban on many gay men donating blood.
This is not just a matter of fairness and non-discrimination. The number of new donors coming forward to give blood has fallen significantly over the last 10 years, so we should all be concerned about the effect that restricting the pool of potential donors has on overall supply.
It is high time that this bar on blood donation is reviewed, based on the best medical evidence and advice. I would be grateful therefore if you would agree to see that the blood donor referral criteria are reviewed and, in order to inform this review, ensure that fresh research is done into the incidence of HIV and hepatitis in men who are married or who have a civil partnership.
I look forward to your reply.
John Healey MP