Its roles are stated to include:[5] In 2009/10 its strategic objectives were focused on the efficient provision of a safe and sustainable supply of blood and its components, the identification and referral of more organ donors and the establishment of NHSBT as an effective and responsive organisation, focused on the needs of donors and patients.

The service operates out of fifteen centres, and collects around 2.1 million donations per year and supplies 8,000 units of blood every day.

Service directors proposed a reconfiguration and centralisation strategy in 2006, based on the closure of most local processing and testing labs, and subsequent operation out of just three large 'supercentres' to serve the same geographical area.

[9] In July 2015 it was decided to shut the blood supply chain manufacturing facilities in Sheffield and Newcastle in 2017 and transfer their work to Manchester.

In some cases this will also require the use of a police escort for the transporting vehicle in order to safely and quickly navigate major road junctions.

This link with the Local Organisers was inherited from the Wartime Red Cross (mainly) and St. Johns blood collection teams.

These mobile teams continue to collect, but two centres – Bristol and Plymouth (Derriford) – have static bases in local venues.

Currently, blood donation sessions are set up throughout the country and take place in many diverse venues, from village halls, workplaces and mobile collection units (known as Bloodmobiles).

[citation needed] In 1968, the National Tissue Typing and Reference Laboratory was established at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.

[citation needed] In 2010, the Bio Products Laboratory became a limited company owned directly by the Department of Health.

The Department of Health partly privatised it in 2013, selling a significant majority stake to Bain Capital.