To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff posts will be (a) discontinued and (b) moved to other sites from the Tooting Blood Processing and Testing centre as part of the planned consolidation of processing and testing centres following the Review of the National Blood Service Strategy. (195117)

The National Blood Service (NSB) is an operational division of NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). NHSBT plans to move processing and testing services from the Tooting centre during 2009-10. All other services will remain at the centre, including the issue department (from which blood is issued), so that local hospitals will continue to receive blood as and when they need it.

It is anticipated that these changes will result in the reduction of approximately 70 posts at the Tooting centre. NHSBT intend to deliver this reduction through non-compulsory means, such as voluntary redundancy, staff turnover and vacancy control. Staff affected by change will be given a range of support, including training and help with redeployment both within and outside NHSBT.