FHB responds on incident at Hong Kong Red Cross BTS blood donation event

     In response to media enquiries about the behaviour of an individual staff member of the Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) at a blood donation event earlier at the Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Headquarters, a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau (FHB) today (June 26) made the following response:
      
     "The FHB expresses regret over the unprofessional behaviour of an individual BTS staff member during the blood donation event conducted at the Auxiliary Police Headquarters, and has requested the Hospital Authority and the BTS to investigate the matter in accordance with the established mechanism and follow it up seriously. Healthcare staff must at all times abide by the principle of equal treatment for all and provide services in a professional manner.
      
     "There is no substitute for blood, and maintaining a stable blood supply is very important to save patients. Over the years, members of the disciplined services have been very supportive and actively took part in blood donation activities organised by the BTS to maintain a stable supply of blood in Hong Kong. We express our heartfelt thanks to the disciplined services staff for their spirit of donating blood to save lives and hope that this individual incident will not affect blood collection activities."