The following is a reproduction of the Department of Health Press Release Ref 2001/0104
The country’s leading experts in transplant services are meeting today to agree a joint approach to improve organ and tissue donation and transplant rates as part of a £3 million plan. The Secretary of State also announced his intention to establish a new set of national standards to improve services for 30,000 kidney patients.
Latest figures show that the number of transplant operations in the early part of this year is the same as last year and the number of donor registrations increased in February despite recent concerns. The meeting takes place against a background of a 10 year international decline in the number of transplant operations, in part due to the reduction of deaths in road traffic accidents. To address current trends experts have pledged to:
Mr Milburn said:
“Today’s meeting marks the start of an unprecedented national effort to improve transplant services and increase the number of transplants carried out.
“The meeting agreed the importance of doubling the number of registered organ donors in order to improve the available research and available organs for transplant.
“We need to ensure the public are better informed and better able to give their consent; staff are better trained and higher standards of service are set in this vital area of work. We will continue to work together to improve these services which genuinely save lives.
“The organ transplant service depends entirely on the generosity of donors and their families. The circumstances are by definition tragic. And yet, from such an event an unselfish act helps others. I want to express my personal respect and gratitude for those who make this life-saving gift.
“The new Renal Services NSF will be developed with the help of health and social care professionals and managers, service users, carers, partner agencies and other advocates. It will be the blueprint for national standards and services that will improve treatment and care for the 30,000 patients in the UK on dialysis or living with a kidney transplant.”
Mr Milburn continued:
“This Government recognises the difficulties for kidney patients and the inadequate service they have endured as a result of decades of neglect and under investment.
“More work is needed. It is difficult to think of any other field of medicine in which advances in treatment have been more dramatic than in renal services - successes which mean more people can have effective treatment. Our National Service Framework will ensure that the treatment patients receive will reach the highest standards across the country.
Professor Magdi Yacoub, Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Ms Sue Sutherland, Chief Executive, UK Transplant
Mr Chris Rudge, Medical Director, UK Transplant
Mr Phil Hatton, Transplant Support Network
Mrs Janet Dacombe , Pity II (Alder Hey parent)
Mr Max Gabe-Wilkinson OBE, Chairman, Transplants in Mind (TIME)
Dr John Evans, Chairman, British Organ Donor Society (BODY)
Mr Nigel Hughes, Chief Executive, British Liver Trust
Mr Austin Donohoe, Chairman, Renal Alliance
Mr Timothy F Statham OBE, National Kidney Federation
Professor Gwyn Williams, President, The Renal Association
Dr John Lilleyman, President, Royal College of Pathologists
Miss Pam Buckley, Chair, UK Transplant Co-ordinators Association
Mr Antony J Hooker, Transplant Co-ordinator
Mrs Beverley Cornforth, Transplant Co-ordinator
Dr Michael Wilkes, Ethics Committee, British Medical Association
Ms Christine Hancock, General Secretary, Royal College of Nursing
Mr John Armitage, President, British Association for Tissue Banking
Professor J Andrew Bradley, President, British Transplantation Society
Professor Sir Peter J Morris, Chair, UKT Kidney Advisory Group
Sir Barry Jackson, President, Royal College of Surgeons
Mr John Wallwork, Chair, UKT Cardiothoracic Advisory Group
Professor Paul McMaster, Chair, UKT Liver Advisory Group
Dr Peter Hutton, President, Royal College of Anaesthetistis
Mr Giles Morgan, Intensive Care Society
Rajesh Kalhan, Director, Confederation of Indian Organisations
Mr William Trant, Director, West Indian Standing Conference
Hament Patel, SAMEC Trust
Mr Nick Turkentine, Head of Charity Affairs, National Kidney Research Fund
Dr Ruth Warwick, lead consultant, donor care, London Cord Bank
David Yelland, Editor of The Sun
Representative of the Patient Liaison Group of the RC Path
Ms Elizabeth Fothergill, CEO Pennine Healthcare, on behalf of ABHI
Mrs Jane Pearson/Ms Heather Stone, Tissue Co-ordinator, London & SE Tissue Services
Ms Esther Ranzen
Alan and Margaret Poulton - recipient family
Mr and Mrs Eddy Crouth - donor family
Mr Digby Emson, Pharmacy Superintendent, Boots the Chemist Ltd
Ms Colette Graham, Head of Communications, Centrica Financial Services
Mr Ian Bogle, Chairman, BMA
Mr Nicholas Wopshott, Editor, The Times (Saturday edition)
Mr David Smerdon, Chair, UKT Cornea Advisory Group
Mr Hilary Benn MP
Dr Susan Fuggle
The National Kidney Federation cannot accept responsibility for information provided. The above is for guidance only. Patients are advised to seek further information from their own doctor.
Page created: 28 February 2001
Last updated: 21 April 2008
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