A blood plasma donation centre has ceased operations after the treatment was found ineffective on Covid-19.

The NHS centre opened just three weeks ago in Ashford's County Square shopping centre amid hope it would cut hospital deaths.

People who had recovered from a positive coronavirus case were asked to donate blood, from which its plasma would be siphoned.

It was hoped the clear fluid would boost hospital patient's immune system response to Covid, lowering deaths.

However a medical study published on Saturday showed that no measurable difference could be seen between patients on the standard treatment and those given immune blood plasma.

Using a pool of 10,400 UK patients, Oxford researchers analysed 1,873 deaths and found 18% of patients treated with convalescent plasma died within 28 days - the same figure for the group given standard treatment.

The finding dashed international hopes for the treatment, and has led to the Ashford donation drive to end.

In a post on its facebook page, County Square wrote: "The interim results do not show evidence that convalescent plasma has an overall benefit on patient outcomes in moderately ill people.

"Following these results, plasma donations have been temporarily suspended.

"Donors are being asked to keep the appointments booked for the future while the team is exploring all the options. Donor contact teams will be contacting them with news."

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