EU rule blocks air service for cancer patients' blood
AN AIRLINE has had to stop carrying cancer patients' blood samples between islands as they have been labelled dangerous or hazardous goods.
Highland Airways says it has no choice but to ban the products from flights because of a change in European rules on carrying freight.
It said as it does not have a dangerous goods licence it can no longer carry the blood products.
Talks are continuing with NHS Western Isles to resolve the issue which affects cancer services for patients in the Uists and Barra.
The health board recently re-introduced chemotherapy treatment at the Uist and Barra Hospital in Benbecula in February after axing the service in 2002.
It helps about a dozen patients a year who previously had to go to Stornoway, Inverness or Glasgow for treatment.
The specimens are now taken to Stornoway by road and ferry three times a week instead of five times by air.
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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