Organ Donation

Viaspan product recall

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have been informed by the manufacturer that Viacom, a perfusion fluid used during abdominal organ donation, has been recalled. This is due to a potential contamination risk. No adverse events have been recorded related to this product.There is no other product immediately available in the UK for use in liver, pancreas and small bowel donation. NHS Blood and Transplant is working with the MHRA and Department of Health to secure alternative supplies. To ensure that the transplant programme is maintained, it has been agreed that Viaspan will continue in use until alternative products are available.

Commenting on the Viaspan recall Lorna Williamson, NHS Blood and Transplant Medical and Research Director said:

"NHSBT endorses the decision to continue to use Viaspan until suitable alternative products are available. This is necessary, if the transplant programme is not to be affected by this product recall. We are reassured that no adverse events have been reported related to this product.

"For patients suffering from terminal liver disease a transplant may be the only treatment and for many cannot be delayed even for a few days. NHSBT is working with the MHRA and the transplant centres to ensure that the vital transplant programme continues. We are liaising with DH over supplies of alternative products and are ready to offer transport assistance if needed."

Professor Dame Sally Davies, the Chief Medical Officer said:

"Our priority is to ensure patients are safe. There is currently no evidence of any problems in patients who have recently had transplants where Viaspan has been used. If we were to recall the product immediately it is clear that patients would suffer. The manufacturer has advised that where necessary, Viaspan can continue to be used until Transplant Teams have stocks of alternative products and patients are prescribed an antibiotic known to be effective against the contaminant as a precaution.

"Every day doctors and Transplant Teams make clinical decisions which weigh up the risks and benefit for their patients and they will continue to do so.

"We are now working urgently to source alternative products. The MHRA is working closely with the manufacturers and tests are ongoing."

Professor Sir Kent Woods, Chief Executive of the MHRA, said:

"There is no evidence from transplant centres that patients who have had transplants using this solution are experiencing any related healthcare problems.

"We have acted quickly to protect patients and we have alerted transplant centres and surgeons immediately about this contamination and precautionary recall by the manufacturer. We are working closely with the NHS to make alternative products available for transplant operations. We support the decision to use Viaspan if it is clinically appropriate for patients and there are no alternatives available.

"Situations like this are very rare. If transplant patients have any questions, they should speak to their doctor."

 

NHSBT statement in response to two cases of lymphoma transfer through kidney transplantation, Liverpool, Nov 2010

Lynda Hamlyn, Chief Executive of NHS Blood and Transplant said: "On behalf of NHSBT I offer our sincere and unreserved apologies to the patients for the fact that each received a donated kidney that would have been rejected by their surgeon if he had been aware of the complete donor information.

"The cause of the mistake was human error which was dreadful for all concerned. I do not underestimate how traumatic this has been for those involved but lessons have been learned through an extensive investigation and a number of changes to working practices have been implemented to help prevent any such event happening again.

"Maintaining the safety of organ donations is of vital importance and I would stress that we do everything we can to make sure that all donated organs are as fit as possible for transplant.

"However, every transplant recipient should also be given information by their surgeon about the risks associated with the transplantation. No second hand organ can ever be completely risk free.

"It's important also to state that the vast majority of organ transplants are carried out successfully but they are only possible thanks to donors and their relatives giving their permission to donate.

“For the sake of the thousands of people still waiting for a life-saving transplant I would urge people to discuss their wishes for donation with their family and to join the NHS Organ Donor Register."

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For further information contact the NHSBT Press Office on 0117 969 2444, out of hours on 07659 133583 or pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk
To join the ODR visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23

British Journal of Anaesthesia Supplement - Diagnosis of Death and Organ Donation

Paul Murphy, National Clinical Lead for Organ Donation at NHS Blood and Transplant said: "Organ transplantation is made possible through the generosity of people who donate their organs so that others can live on, but also through the skill and dedication of a great many clinical staff.

"There has been much progress in recent years in transforming the systems and processes across the UK to increase rates of organ donation and transplantation, and there is more work needed to improve rates further.

 "NHS Blood and Transplant plays a key part in overseeing and managing donation and transplant processes and is privileged to have been involved in producing this supplement which brings together the professional views of many highly respected and experienced clinicians and showcases the work being done in the UK to increase donor numbers.

"Diagnosis of Death and Organ Donation should be seen as a seminal source of reference for those wishing to work with us and others across the NHS to drive forward change and improvements in this miraculous and life-saving area of medicine."

A press release from Oxford University Press can be found here.

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For further information, please contact the NHSBT press office on 0117 969 2444, at pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk or out of hours on 07659 133583.

 

Wales Organ Donation Bill White Paper - November 2011

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) welcomes any change that encourages people to discuss and support organ donation and we will work within whatever legislative framework is introduced in any of the four health administrations in the United Kingdom. As the UK Organ Donor Organisation, NHSBT will be involved in implementation of the new policy.

The Welsh Government has involved a wide range of people in developing the White Paper and taken advice from an Expert Reference Group, which included Sally Johnson, NHSBT's Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation and from many stakeholders involved with organ donation and transplantation.

NHSBT looks forward to considering the White Paper and how best to meet the challenges posed by a change to the organ donation system in Wales. As a UK-wide body we will also be considering the implications for the other nations of the UK whose consent system will not be changed by the new legislation.

Research shows that most people in the UK would accept an organ if they needed a transplant but only 29% of us have committed to donate an organ after our death by joining the Organ Donor Register (ODR). NHSBT will continue to promote the need for more voluntary registrations on the ODR.

NHSBT is seeking assurance that the new legislation will enable existing partnerships with organisations, such as those with the DVLA and Boots, to be maintained and extended so that it is still easy for people throughout the UK to opt in to the Organ Donor Register.

Background
Since 2008, NHSBT has completed the recruitment of new Specialist Nurses - Organ Donation, Clinical Leads for Organ Donation have been appointed and Donation Committees have been established. They are working together, in hospitals throughout the UK, to make donation a usual rather than unusual event and significant progress has been made.
The number of donors after brain death (DBD) has increased by 5% over the last four years, reversing the trend which saw a 13% decrease between 2001/2002 and 2007/2008. The number of donors after circulatory death (DCD) has increased by 87% since 2007/2008.

This rise continues, with an overall increase in the number of donors so far this year of 8.6%* since 1st April 2011 when compared with the same period last year.

*As at 21st October 2011, since 1st April 2011 increase in DBD 4.7%, increase in DCD 15.4%.

Please click here for more information.

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For further information, please contact the NHSBT press office on 0117 969 2444, at pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk or out of hours on 07659 133583.

Notes to editors

• NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority. Its remit includes the provision of a reliable, efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS in England and North Wales. It is also the organ donor organisation for the UK and is responsible for matching and allocating donated organs.

 

Department of Health publishes outcome of Commercial Review of NHSBT

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) welcomes the findings of the Department of Health's review of its commercial effectiveness and support for its plans to improve its efficiency and effectiveness and deliver further savings to the NHS as an arm's-length body.

Bill Fullagar, NHSBT Chairman, said: "Publication of the Commercial Review brings to an end the uncertainty for our donors and stakeholders brought on by speculation about the possible outcomes of the review. The NHSBT Board will continue to oversee the drive for efficiency whilst never compromising our life saving work."

The Commercial Review, published on 18th October 2011, was set up to consider if there may be opportunities for more cost effective operations and commercial arrangement such as contracting out some discrete functions, provided there was no conflict with the public health considerations. This was a recommendation of the Arm's-Length Bodies review - Liberating the NHS: Report of the arm's-length bodies review - published in July 2010 by the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley.

The ALB Review report confirmed NHSBT as an ALB because 'moving to a different delivery model would risk destabilising the current national donor system'. There were no proposals to privatise the blood service.

Commenting on the Commercial Review, Lynda Hamlyn, NHSBT Chief Executive said:

"This review provided an opportunity to rigorously test our strategy and plans. We are delighted that the findings of the review endorse our unique and valuable role in saving lives through voluntary donation and that despite speculation in the media there are no recommendations to privatise NHSBT. We will continue our work to improve our services at least cost to the taxpayer.

"We greatly value the support shown during this review by our donors, our customers and others who have an interest in our work. These expressions of how much our role is appreciated inspire us to continue to do the best we can to help save and improve the lives of patients through the products and services we provide."

The review particularly highlights:

• the importance of our work on developing an integrated transfusion service which will help improve our service to the patient.
• how NHSBT has worked with hospitals to encourage the appropriate use of blood for transfusions and continues to work towards further improvements.
• The significant improvements NHSBT has made to productivity which has allowed us to reduce the price of blood resulting in £30 million in annual savings to the NHS.

NHSBT is committed to continuing to work efficiently and effectively, managing the national voluntary donation system for blood, tissues, organs and stem cells turning these precious donations into products that can be used safely to the benefit of the patients we serve. More detail is set out in our Strategic Plan 2011-14 which was published in April.

Please click here to view the Department of Health statement.

NHSBT's Strategic Plan 2011-14 can be viewed via the following link; http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/about/strategy/index.html

NHSBT Statement on Kidney Transplants at Royal Liverpool Hospital

22 March 2011

Dr James Neuberger, NHSBT Associate Medical Director, said: "We extend our sympathy to the patients and their families in this situation, but would stress that this is uncommon and that everything possible is always done to reduce the risk of any transmissible diseases.

"There are no other transplant recipients in this case.

"NHSBT is co-ordinating an investigation with the donor and recipient hospitals to find out exactly what took place and to identify if any lessons can be learned.

"When patients are registered for a transplant they are given a full explanation of the risks surrounding transplantation. No transplant is risk free, but we do everything we can to make sure that any organ offered up for transplant is tested and deemed fit for transplant.

"A full medical history of the donor is always obtained from the medical notes and from talking to the donor's family as well as virology screening by a blood test. Tests are also undertaken to ascertain how well the organs are functioning. This takes account of their cause of death, documented medical history and lifestyle and information gained through talking to relatives and the donor's family doctor. The surgeons at retrieval will also examine the organs to check for any signs of damage or disease in a bid to minimise the risks of communicable diseases.

"A transplant may be the only possible treatment for some people, who would die without one. In a situation where there are not nearly enough organs available for the number of transplants required, it often comes down to a balance of risk and benefit. Guidance is available that sets out the risks and benefits of when an organ should be used. Ultimately this is a decision for the clinician, the patient and their family."

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For further information contact the NHSBT press office on 0117 969 2444 or out of hours on 07659 133583.

Notes:

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a Special Health Authority in the NHS. It is the organ donor organisation for the UK and is responsible for matching and allocating donated organs. Its remit also includes the provision of a reliable, efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS.

No other organs or tissue were transplanted from the donor.

NHS Blood and Transplant - Commercial Effectiveness Review

9 March 2011

The Department of Health is leading a review into the commercial effectiveness of NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). This was announced in the ALB Review Report (Liberating the NHS: Report of the arm's-length bodies review) published in July 2010 by the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley.

The Review confirmed NHSBT as an ALB because 'moving to a different delivery model would risk destabilising the current national donor system'. It considered 'there may be opportunities for more cost effective operations and commercial arrangement such as contracting out some discrete functions, provided there is no conflict with the public health considerations'. The Review recommended 'an in-depth review into opportunities to make it (NHSBT) more commercially effective'.

There has been speculation recently about the privatisation of parts of the blood service. There are no proposals to privatise the blood service.

The commercial effectiveness review is at an early stage and the Department of Health have said that "during the review we will be considering the experience and skills that exist in the private sector to identify opportunities for making NHSBT more commercially effective". Part of this will involve talking to private providers about what NHSBT could do differently to realise efficiencies without impacting the safe supply of blood and blood products to the NHS. It is not a procurement or tendering exercise.

The Department of Health spokesperson continued, "We are not considering any functions that could risk destabilising the current national donor system, particularly the interface with donors. Any options that are identified will be considered very carefully before a final decision is made by Ministers".

For further information, contact the NHSBT Press Office on 0117 969 2444 or pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk. Out of hours contact us via our pager service: 07659 133583.

Review of Liver Allocation Scheme

21 February 2011

Dr James Neuberger, NHSBT Associate Medical Director, said: "Allocating organs fairly, in a transparent way, and ensuring that patients receive the maximum benefit from a transplant are the main aims of the UK organ allocation schemes.

"Because there is a relatively low availability of donated organs compared with the number of people in need of a transplant, devising appropriate allocation schemes becomes highly complex. NHSBT works with clinicians, patients and others to agree the most appropriate system.

"The proposed new liver allocation scheme, which is currently being statistically modelled, seeks to prioritise patients based on the benefit that maximises the difference between survival with and without a transplant.

"This would involve allocating livers according to the increased amount and quality of life that a recipient would be likely to achieve instead of the current system that is based largely around how sick a patient is.

"The proposed scheme is not designed to favour any one group, young or old, but to derive the maximum benefit in terms of increased life for all patients.

"The underlying principles of organ allocation schemes include openness, fairness, public support and an ongoing desire for improvement reflecting current circumstances.

"The review of the current liver allocation scheme has been conducted with the involvement of a number of patient groups as well as representatives of each liver transplant centre in the UK.

"A number of different systems have been considered and key aims are to ensure the new scheme remains consistent with legislation and demonstrates greater transparency.

"No final decisions have been made and the new scheme will only be implemented once the modelling has been satisfactorily completed and with the agreement of clinicians and patient groups."

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For further information contact the NHSBT press office on 0117 969 2444 or out of hours on 07659 133583.

Notes to editors

* There are currently (as at 10 February) 435 people waiting for a liver transplant in the UK

* Last year (April 2009-March 2010) 664 people received a liver transplant from a deceased donor

* NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a Special Health Authority in the NHS. It is the organ donor organisation for the UK and is responsible for matching and allocating donated organs. Its remit also includes the provision of a reliable, efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS.

 

Organ Donation and Judaism in the UK

13 January 2011

James Neuberger, Associate Medical Director for NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), said: NHSBT respects the views of all religions and has received public support from all the major faiths in the UK towards organ donation.

It is a very personal choice and anyone with questions around how their religion reflects the donation of organs is urged to discuss it with their local faith leader.

Organ donation only occurs after someone has died whether it is by cardiac or brain stem death and individual donors wishes are always at the centre of discussions with their relatives.

We do not record donors religions on the Organ Donor Register (ODR) but anyone in favour of donation or joining the ODR should inform their relatives of any beliefs they hold that reflect their religion so that this can be taken into consideration at the time donation is being discussed.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this important issue with the Chief Rabbi.

Background:

Anyone signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR) is urged to discuss their wishes with family and friends to ensure they can confirm their wishes when the time comes.

Three people die every day in the UK because of the shortage of organs for transplant, so more people are needed to join the ODR and discuss their wishes with their relatives.

To sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk

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For further information, please contact the NHSBT press office on 0117 969 2444, at pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk or out of hours on 07659 133583.

 

ODT Professional Development Programme (PDP) shortlisted in Guardian Public Services Awards 2010

26 November 2010

NHS Blood and Transplant's Professional Development Programme (PDP) for Clinical and Non-Clinical Leads in Organ Donation was placed as a runner-up in the seventh annual Guardian Public Services Awards 2010. The Programme, which was judged in the Skills Development category, provides over 350 NHS Consultants and Organ Donation Committee Chairpeople with the clinical expertise, leadership and change management skills they need to improve organ donation.

Almost 700 teams and individuals entered the 2010 awards and the winners included local authorities, charities, museums and a prison.

In conjunction with other initiatives, NHSBT's Professional Development Programme has helped to achieve a 15%-20% increase in donor numbers after being launched in February this year.

NHSBT response to Professor Sir Gordon Duff’s independent review of the NHS Organ Donor Register

19 October 2010

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) welcomes Professor Sir Gordon Duff’s independent review into mis-recording of data on the Organ Donor Register (ODR), and his finding that the issue was handled with the appropriate level of urgency, diligence and sensitivity.

We worked closely with the review team to provide detailed information on how some registrants’ preferences for organ donation were wrongly recorded on the ODR and the actions we took to redress the situation. We are pleased that the information provided has led Professor Sir Gordon to conclude that appropriate action was taken and that our handling of the error, and contact with those affected by it, demonstrated our commitment to openness and transparency.

NHSBT sincerely regrets that the error was not uncovered earlier and that the donations of 25 individuals were affected by it. We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our unreserved apologies to the families of those people.

After discovering the error, the NHSBT Board carried out its own investigations resulting in a detailed remedial action plan, which included steps to correct automatically a large number of the affected ODR records and to improve the robustness of the ODR and the mechanisms through which people can register. We are progressing well with this action plan.

We accept in full the recommendations of Professor Sir Gordon Duff, which will contribute significantly to strengthening the ODR and public confidence in it as a way to record organ donation wishes. Since the error related to the way in which we received data from one of our partners, our immediate focus has been to take forward those actions that relate to our working arrangements with partner organisations.

Professor Sir Gordon acknowledges in his review that the existing ODR infrastructure was not originally designed for the purposes that it is currently used. Whilst our remedial action plan and a number of Professor Sir Gordon’s recommendations will ensure that the Register is robust and reliable in the short to medium term, we will take forward as a matter of urgency the scoping and design of a new ODR, as recommended. Our long-term aim is to operate the ODR as an interactive database that will allow registrants to check and amend their own records. It would also be consistently used by authorised health professionals to check the donation preferences of any potential organ donors, allowing the Register to help save the lives of the three people who die every day in the UK due to the shortage of organs for transplantation.

For a copy of the full report by Professor Sir Gordon Duff, please click the following link:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_120563

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For further information, please contact the NHSBT press office on 0117 969 2444, at pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk or out of hours on 07659 133583.

Notes to Editors
• NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a Special Health Authority in the NHS. It is the organ donor organisation for the UK and is responsible for matching and allocating donated organs. Its remit also includes the provision of a reliable, efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS in England and North Wales
• To join the NHS Organ Donor Register call the Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23, go to www.organdonation.nhs.uk

World Heart Day

24 September 2010

Preventing heart disease and stroke through healthy behaviours at work is the theme for this year’s World Heart Day on Sunday 26 September.

Organised by the World Heart Federation, it is also a time to reflect on how organ donation helps to give very sick heart patients – those for whom there is no other cure – the chance to live on.

According to the UK Transplant Registry, a total of 6,714* people have benefited from a heart transplant in the UK. In many acute cases, this is the only possible treatment and without it, a patient will die.

Coronary heart disease last year was the underlying reason for more than 10% of all heart transplants in the UK, along with dilated cardiomyopathy which is also life-threatening and accounted for 34%.

Without the kindness of donors and their families who at a traumatic time agree to donation taking place, hundreds of heart patients’ lives would be cut short.

There is a worldwide need for more donors of all organs but in the UK alone around three people die every day because of the shortage.

If you believe in helping others to live on through organ donation, join the NHS Organ Donor Register. It’s important to talk to your relatives as well so that they know what your wishes are.

Click here to read real life stories of people whose lives have been saved and transformed through heart and other organ transplants.

Did you know?

• 125 heart and heart/lung transplants were carried out last year (1 April 2009-31 March 2010) in the UK

As at 24 September 2010:

• 127 people are currently waiting for a heart or heart/lung transplant in the UK
• 8,001 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant in the UK, a majority – 6,869 – registered for a kidney transplant
• 17,416,009 people have pledged to donate organs for transplant by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register
  

* as at 13 September 2010, including heart only transplant and heart combined with another organ transplant

Visit also: www.world-heart-federation.org

Arm's-Length Bodies Review - NHSBT to continue as a Special Health Authority

26 July 2010

NHS Blood and Transplant's continued status as the Special Health Authority responsible for securing the safe supply of blood, organs and associated services to the NHS was confirmed today in a statement by Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, on the Arm's-Length Bodies Review.

Commenting on the announcement, Chief Executive, Lynda Hamlyn said: "I am very pleased that NHSBT's unique contribution to the NHS has been recognised so that we can continue our life saving work of delivering a safe and sufficient supply of blood, blood products, organs, tissues, stem cells and specialist services to patients."

Access to kidney transplantation in the UK

21 July 2010

In response to an article published on bmj.com on 21 July 2010 regarding variations between centres in terms of patients’ access to kidney transplantation, James Neuberger, Associate Medical Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHSBT, said:

“NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has long been responsible for analysing data relating to transplants and their outcomes in order to inform future clinical practice and ensure the best possible care for patients.

“We therefore welcome this study and encourage renal centres to take note of its findings so as to help bring about further improvement in care, treatment and equity.

“NHSBT is responsible for the criteria used by transplant centres for selecting patients to join the National Transplant List and also for the allocation of donated organs. These procedures are drawn up by health care professionals and in discussion with patients, through our organ-specific advisory groups.

“NHSBT is committed to ensuring there is equity of access to transplantation of all organs, regardless of various factors such as the patient’s age, gender or ethnicity, and our policies are continuously reviewed to ensure they are appropriate and up-to-date.

“There is a serious shortage of donated kidneys and other organs for transplantation which leads to around 1,000 deaths every year in the UK of people who are waiting or who become too ill and have to be removed from the list.

“We have however seen a 40% increase in the number of kidney transplants taking place in the UK in the past five years – up from 1,855 in 2005 to 2,599 in 2009.

“But with almost 7,000 people waiting for a kidney transplant in the UK, we need to ensure that all the relevant systems are as efficient as possible so that more people can benefit from organ donation and transplantation.

“To help increase the availability of donated organs, we also need the general public to discuss their wishes regarding organ donation with their close relatives and to join the NHS Organ Donor Register.”

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register, call 0300 123 23 23, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or text SAVE to 84118 - and let your relatives know your wishes.

For further enquires please contact the NHSBT press office on 0117 969 2444 or pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk or call the press pager on 07659 133583 for out of hours enquiries.

Recording of incorrect data on the NHS Organ Donor Register

29 June 2010

We have now written to 300,000 people on the Organ Donor Register to confirm their preferences for organ donation, following identification of a technical error in recording information on the Register. This means that all those whose preferences could not be confirmed from the information already held have received a letter asking them to contact us. However, if anyone wishes to check their details please contact us on 0300 123 99 99 or email odr-records@nhsbt.nhs.uk.

Where we have not been contacted by the named registrant and any records are believed to still contain potentially incorrect information, we can assure ODR members that these records will not be used in discussions with families about organ donation. Only records that were believed to have been affected and then amended in accordance with the registrant’s wishes will be used in any future family discussions.

We have contacted the small number of families whose relative became a donor where their preferences may not have been correctly recorded. In each case the family gave permission for the donation to take place, but it may not have been in line with the individual's preferences. We sincerely apologise for any distress this may have caused.

Three people die every day due to lack of an organ and we thank everyone who makes the very important decision to join the Organ Donor Register. If you are already on the Register please make sure that your family is aware of your wish to donate.

Recording of incorrect data on the NHS Organ Donor Register

23 April 2010

We are currently writing to 300,000 people on the organ donor register to confirm their preferences following identification of a technical error in recording information on the NHS Organ Donor Register. If you have not heard from us in the next month then you can be confident that your record is accurate. However, if you wish to check your details please contact us on 0300 123 99 99 or email odr-records@nhsbt.nhs.uk.

We assure everyone on the Organ Donor Register that the affected records will not be used in discussions with their family about organ donation. They will only be used once they have been corrected in accordance with the donor's wishes.

We have contacted the 25 families whose relative became a donor where their preferences may not have been correctly recorded. In each case the family gave permission for the donation to take place, but it may not have been in line with the individual's preferences. We sincerely apologise for any distress this may have caused.

Most of the 17 million people on the Register do not need to take any action. Three people die a day due to lack of an organ and we thank everyone who makes this very generous step to give the gift of life. If you are already on the Organ Donor Register please make sure that your family is aware of your wish to donate.

Recording of incorrect data on the NHS Organ Donor Register

11 April 2010

We have identified a technical error in recording information on the NHS Organ Donor Register. This only affects those who have registered via the driving licence application form.

We assure everyone currently on the organ donor register that the affected records will not be used in discussions with their family about organ donation. They will only be used once they have been corrected in accordance with the donors' wishes. We will shortly be writing to all those on the register who may be affected to confirm their preferences. Anyone else on the register who is not contacted can be confident that their record is accurate.

There are a small number of cases, 21 over the past six years, where the person has died and their preferences may not have been correctly recorded. In each case the family gave permission for the donation to take place, but it may not have been in line with the individual's preferences. We will be contacting the affected families as a matter of urgency. There could be a small number of additional cases. We are still checking our records to ensure that other donors or families have not been similarly affected.

The vast majority of people on the ODR do not need to take any action. If you are registered on the ODR and haven't been contacted by us then there's nothing you need to do, we can assure you that the problem is being fixed.

We sincerely apologise for any distress this may have caused. We can reassure everyone that no organs have been donated without the support of the deceased's nearest relatives and that no one has been registered as a donor against their wishes.

Requested allocation of a deceased donor organ

29 March 2010

NHS Blood and Transplant welcomes the introduction of guidance designed to allow for flexibility in the allocation of donated organs in exceptional circumstances.

The guidelines, which have been agreed by all UK Health Administrations, allow for a donated organ to be allocated preferentially to someone waiting for an organ transplant who is in a close relationship to the deceased.

Sally Johnson, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, the special health authority responsible for the allocation of organs across the UK, said: “This guidance supports the well-established donation process in which respecting the wishes of donors, in consultation with their relatives, is an important part.

“Thousands of people benefit every year from an organ donated unconditionally by a complete stranger which is allocated based on clinical need, ensuring the best possible outcome for the transplant.

“This guidance will enable us to consider, as we always do, what the donor wanted but also to take into account the health and wellbeing of a sick patient who is known to them.

“We do not expect these occasions to arise very often and most organ transplants carried out in the UK will continue to be based on unconditional donation.

"With around 10,000 people in need of an organ transplant and an average of three people dying every day because of the shortage, there remains an urgent need for people to consider donation in general, join the NHS Organ Donor Register and to discuss their donation wishes with their relatives so that these can be confirmed when the time comes."

Super-urgent liver and heart patients will continue to take priority in the organ allocation process due to the urgency of their need and the likelihood of their death without a transplant.

The process for joining the NHS Organ Donor Register will be unchanged as a result of the guidance – any consideration of requested or preferential donation will only be given at the time of the donor’s death.

NHSBT statement on mandated choice for organ donation

17 March 2010

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) welcomes the debate about mandated choice for organ donation as a way of encouraging discussion about this important subject.

However, it is neither for nor against any changes to the system of consent for organ donation, any of which would require a change of legislation.

Instead, with three people dying every day in the UK in need of an organ transplant, NHSBTs focus is on encouraging even more people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR).

The Human Tissue Acts, introduced in 2006, confirm the importance of consent for organ donation and make it clear that the wishes of the deceased should be of the utmost importance.

More than 17 million people have already joined the ODR thats 28% of the UK population but even more are needed.

Anyone signing up is urged to discuss their wishes with family and friends to ensure they can confirm their wishes when the time comes.

To sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register you can do so now by calling 0300 123 23 23 or logging on to www.organdonation.nhs.uk

Eligibility of non-UK residents to receive donated organs

9 December 2009

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has a statutory responsibility to ensure the integrity of organ donation in the United Kingdom specifically, that organs donated for transplant are matched and allocated in a fair way, based on the clinical need of the patient and in accordance with the law.

Organs donated from deceased donors in the UK are given freely and without condition. It is illegal to sell organs for transplantation in the UK.

Safety of organs for transplant

25 November 2009

Transplants are vital operations and their success depend entirely on the generosity of donors and their families who make this lifesaving gift.

Donated organs are a precious resource and save thousands of lives through organ transplants every year. In the UK, donated organs are given freely and without condition, and are allocated to waiting patients strictly according to need and best match. Organ transplantation has an excellent safety record and can transform a patient's life.

Detailed screening is carried out on every donor. This takes account of their cause of death, documented medical history and lifestyle and information gained through talking to relatives. A transplant may be the only possible treatment for some people, who would die without one. In a situation where there are not nearly enough organs available for the number of transplants required, it often comes down to a balance of risk and benefit.

Surgeons are always making judgements about the suitability of donated organs and are faced with the dilemma that - for example - more patients would die if they didn't receive a transplant at all. Guidance is available that sets out the risks and benefits of when an organ should be used. Ultimately this is a decision for the clinician, the patient and their family.

An every day dilemma for UK doctors

27 August 2009

In the UK there is a shortage of donor livers for transplant. There are currently 380 patients waiting for a liver transplant, of whom 38 are aged 25 years or less. In July 2009 alone, 12 patients who were listed for liver transplant died before a liver could be found for them or because they became too ill to undergo the operation. Deciding who should get the precious donated liver is a dilemma that UK doctors face every day.

Liver allocation guidelines have been drawn up by the NHS Blood and Transplant Liver Advisory Group, after discussion with health care professionals and the public, to ensure there is transparency and fairness in organ allocation and to assist clinicians to decide whom amongst their patients will receive a life-saving liver transplant.

Dr Mark Hudson, Consultant Hepatologist of the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, and a member of the NHS Blood and Transplant Liver Advisory Group said, “The decision whether to offer a transplant to patients with severe alcoholic liver disease is complex, involving many clinical advisors including transplant surgeons and physicians, psychiatrists and alcohol support counsellors. They take into account the risk to the patient of dying without a liver transplant, as well as the expected outcome and survival from a transplant.

“If the team believe that there is a high chance that a patient might return to alcohol consumption or any other behaviour which would harm the transplanted liver then that possibility must be considered as to whether a transplant is appropriate. There is no absolute rule that a patient must have been abstinent for 6 months prior to being accepted onto a transplant list. The guidelines are published on the NHSBT website at www.organdonation.nhs.uk.”

Professor James Neuberger, Associate Medical Director of NHS Blood and Transplant, said, “The UK has one of the lowest organ donor rates in Europe. Decisions about whom should receive a life saving liver and other organ is a daily dilemma faced by transplant surgeons across the country. The solution to this problem lies in increasing the number of organ donors. I strongly urge everyone to join the NHS Organ Donor Register. Call the Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23, go to www.organdonation.nhs.uk or text SAVE to 84118 and let your family know of your wishes.”

Ends

Find out more about Liver organ allocation

For further information please contact the NHSBT press office on 0117 969 2444 or out of hours on 07659 133583

• NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a Special Health Authority in the NHS. It is the organ donor organisation for the UK and is responsible for matching and allocating donated organs. Its remit also includes the provision of a reliable, efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS
• To join the NHS Organ Donor Register, call the Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23, go to www.organdonation.nhs.uk or text SAVE to 84118

UK Transplant statement on directed donation of organs after death

15 April 2008

UK Transplant offers its condolences to the family of Laura Ashworth – and hope that they are able to find comfort in the knowledge that honouring her wish to be an organ donor has helped three people.

Organ transplantation is a subject that generates strong debate and opinions. Inevitably the intense media coverage about this case has focused on how donated organs for transplantation are allocated.

Opt in or opt out?

March 2008

The current “opt-in” system of organ donation – where individuals are asked to register their willingness to be a donor after their death – has been the subject of debate for many years.

Healthcare Commission review of heart transplants at Papworth Hospital

19 November 2007

UK Transplant welcomes todays report by the Healthcare Commission which allows heart transplantation at Papworth Hospital to resume.

Throughout the two-week review, UK Transplant worked closely with the Healthcare Commission team to provide detailed statistical background information about the UKs heart transplant programme.

UK Transplant already collects and shares much of the data suggested by the reports recommendations, and will now look at ways to refine this process.

Every year in the UK, around 3,000 organ transplants are carried out for patients with end-stage organ failure for whom there is no other treatment. Overall success rates of these operations are high and steadily continue to improve.

Statement on Dutch reality TV show

29 May 2007

Donated organs are a precious resource and save thousands of lives through organ transplants every year. In the UK, donated organs are given freely and without condition, and are allocated to waiting patients strictly according to need and best match. There is no provision for deceased directed donation of the type envisaged in the Netherlands' Big Donor Show.

Taking on personality traits of donors

14 June 2006

While we are aware of the suggestion that transplant recipients take on aspects of the personality of the organ donor, we are not aware of any evidence to support it and, while not discounting it entirely, we have no reason to believe that it happens.

We would be very interested to see any definitive evidence that supports it.

NHS Organ Donor Register

2 February 2006

The NHS Organ Donor Register is a confidential, computerised database holding the wishes of 14 million people who want to donate their organs after their death to help others to live.

We can categorically state that no-one who is applying to add, amend or withdraw a registration has direct access to that database.

Equality of access to donor organs

8 August 2002

Donated organs are a precious resource. Their sharing is conducted under rules drawn up by the appropriate UK Transplant advisory committee, ensuring that each organ is given to the most suitable recipient and that each patient, as far as possible, is provided with equal access to available organs.

Alder Hey outcome

5 March 2002

The gift of organs for transplant in the UK was not adversely affected as a result of the Alder Hey organ retention inquiry.