Report On Organ Allocation System For Non-UK Residents

Main Category: Transplants / Organ Donations
Article Date: 02 Aug 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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In response to the publication of the report, Lynda Hamlyn, Chief Executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, said:

"Public confidence in the inherent fairness of the organ allocation system is integral to continued support for organ donation and transplantation in this country.

"There is, quite simply, a shortage of donated organs in the UK. This means that while more than 10,000 people currently need a transplant, many - about 1000 a year - will die before they can have one.

"In a situation where there are not enough organs to treat the citizens of the very country donating them, the priority must be to ensure a fair and open system of allocation and treatment and the necessary level of public reassurance that this is the case.

"This report provides welcome rigour and clarity, not only for those working in transplantation, but also for those people who have already signed up to the NHS Organ Donor Register, those who are considering doing so and their families."

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register, please ring 0300 123 23 23 or go to http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk

The Department of Health Report can be found here

Notes

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

2. There are currently 8,054 people in the UK on the "active" waiting list for an organ transplant. This figure changes constantly as people join and leave the transplant list. A further 2,428 are on the "suspended" list because they are too ill or unable to receive a transplant at present. Added together, this brings the total number needing an organ transplant in the UK to 10,482 (this data is correct as of 27 July 2009).

3. Last year, 3504 organ transplants were carried out in the UK, thanks to the generosity of 1844 deceased and living donors - the highest on record.

4. The NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR) is a confidential database used to identify those who have indicated that they wish to donate organs and/or tissue after their death for transplantation. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to be consulted by authorised NHS staff after someone has died in order to establish an individual's wishes on donation.

Source
UK Transplant