Umbilical Cord Blood (Donation) Bill

<p>Blood taken from the umbilical cord of newborns is rich in stem cells and can be stored in blood banks for later use. It is used mainly as an alternative to bone marrow transplantation in blood disorders such as leukaemia and thalassaemia. Additional potential uses for cord blood stem cells are emerging and they may offer an alternative to stem cells sourced from human embryos.</p><p>The Bill seeks to increase the supply of cord blood in the UK by:</p><ul><li>creating a duty on the Secretary of State to promote cord blood donation and issue guidance to medical practitioners </li><li>establishing a system of target setting and annual reporting </li></ul>