The NKF have been involved in the development of the Organ Utilisation Report, it has been published today, Tuesday 21^st February 2023.

The group including the NKF held its first meeting on 1 July 2021.

Members and observers of the OUG were asked to provide their views on key barriers, successes and priorities for organ transplantation, and the utilisation of organs from deceased and living donors.

Table 1 below provides a summary of responses, grouped into themes:

Table 1: stakeholder feedback regarding barriers, successes and priorities

Topic	Points raised
Barriers	– Access to resources (theatres, pathology, novel technology, scout service) – Disparities (education, awareness, engagement, geographical) – Infrastructure (timing of care pathway, technology, commissioning structure) – Workforce (sustainability, education) – Culture (transplant teams, public) – Risk appetite – Trust support
Successes	– Collaboration (between teams, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), commissioners, trusts, advisory groups) – Data sharing (NHSBT dissemination, UK Transplant Registry) – National Organ Retrieval Services – Organ offering and allocation schemes – Infrastructure (governance, guidance, patient pathway and support, bringing living and deceased donation together) – Team commitment – Organ donation (‘opt out’, family support, engagement) – Innovation – Living donation (matching runs, altruistic)
Priorities	– Training and education (improve risk appetite, guidance, culture, transplant teams, public, patients) – Sustainability (service, workforce) – Resources (finance, access to services) – Improve access to proven innovation (machine perfusion, scouts) – Data sharing (digital infrastructure; timeliness) – Commissioning infrastructure (clear end-to-end approach, benefits realisation) – Trust engagement (prioritisation) – Listing, matching and allocation systems – Increase living donation

The report details the need for improvements and change in organ donation and transplantation, the OUG’s remit and approach and vision to ensure donated organs are transplanted into the intended recipient as rapidly as possible by delivering a transplant service that supports and empowers patients, is equitable, reduces unwarranted variations in practice, drives cost savings to the NHS, honours the gift from donors, supports and empowers transplant teams, is sustainable, embeds innovation and places the UK as a world leader.

To deliver the vision the OUG’s report provides 6 areas for improvement against which recommendations for action are made.

Implement of those recommendations will require action from a wide range of organisations, including NHS Trusts, NHSBT, NHSE, Health Education England, the Royal Colleges and professional societies.

For more information on the report please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/honouring-the-gift-of-donation-utilising-organs-for-transplant

The Written Ministerial State can be found here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-02-21/hcws569