Transplant quotes and endorsements

A range of quotes and endorsements relevant to the transplant sector.

2009

Living donation

Lisa Burnapp, Consultant Nurse, Living Donor Kidney Transplantation, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust London, said: “ The HTA’s independent assessment process gives reassurance that we have truly upheld the best interests of the donor.”

2008

On the topic of living organ transplants, Ann Keen, Minister with responsibility for organ transplants, said: “The Human Tissue Act 2004 and the establishment of the HTA were big watersheds in the short history of organ donation in the UK and the legislation placed consent at its heart. The HTA is to be congratulated for introducing new systems for organ donation from living people, including paired and altruistic donation. I visited Hammersmith Hospital recently to see the living donor transplant programme and met a daughter who donated to her mother, a brother to his sister, and a husband to his wife.”

Speaking of these and the altruistic kidney donation by Barbara Ryder, Ann Keen added: “My admiration for people like Barbara is overwhelming. Donors must be fully aware of the process involved and I am reassured that Independent Assessors are there to fulfill that essential role. The HTA is an efficient and modern regulator and trained Independent Assessors work together to implement a robust system in which the public can have real confidence. The role of Independent Assessors has real importance and I am greatly encouraged by your work, your quick but thorough approval system and your professionalism.”

2007

Barbara Ryder, Altruistic kidney donor, said: “The process set up by the HTA to become an altruistic donor is extremely stringent, but is absolutely necessary to check that you know what is involved.”

Ann-Margaret Little, Anthony Nolan Trust, said: “Now that we are regulated by the HTA this reassures the medical community that we are a professional body, which fulfils criteria set at a national level. Regulation has confirmed that we are working in the best way we can. The work of the HTA means that the UK is ahead of many other European countries when it comes to implementing this regulation.”

2006

Transplants

Keith Rigg, Consultant Transplant Surgeon at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Human Tissue Authority Member, said: “The opportunities that the Human Tissue Act brings for both deceased donor and living donor transplantation are welcomed and it is hoped that the wishes of both deceased and living potential donors can be met. The Human Tissue Authority has been working in close partnership with the transplant community to ensure the regulatory framework is in place to enable a smooth transition to the Human Tissue Act and for transplant activity to continue uninterrupted. The opportunity to undertake paired and altruistic living donation for the first time in the UK has been eagerly awaited by many and it is anticipated that these programmes will soon be up and running across the UK.”

Living donation

Lisa Burnapp, Consultant Nurse at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London, on the newly permitted forms of transplantation (altruistic and paired / pooled), said: “The benefits of transplantation are well established. These new initiatives extend the range of options available for people who are waiting for a kidney transplant; increasing choice for patients and maximising the opportunities for successful transplantation. This is a new and exciting era in the UK.”

Keith Rigg, Consultant Transplant Surgeon at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Human Tissue Authority Member, said: “The HTA has been working in close partnership with the transplant community to ensure a smooth transition to the Human Tissue Act so that transplant activity can continue uninterrupted. The opportunity to carry out paired and non-directed altruistic living donation for the first time is very welcome as this will increase the number of living donors in the UK. We anticipate that a small number of people will want to take advantage of the new arrangements within the first twelve months of the system becoming operative and hope that the numbers will grow in future years.”

David Clark, who suffers from polycystic kidney disease, said: “Thanks to the Human Tissue Authority which was set up to regulate living donor transplants, paired donation can take place in the UK. It brings hope to me and others who are in such desperate need of having a new kidney. This and the possibility of altruistic stranger donation should help to address the shortage of organs available. Anything that can help must be a good thing. In a few years' time, I hope this will be as common in the UK as it is starting to be in other countries.”

Timothy Statham OBE, Chief Executive of the National Kidney Federation, a UK-based charity for kidney patients, said: “The donation of a body organ from one person to another is a truly selfless and thoroughly altruistic act. The National Kidney Federation warmly welcomes the Human Tissue Act and in particular the recognition that such ‘gifts of life’ can, and will, take place between strangers.”

Deceased donation

Adrian McNeil, former Chief Executive of the Human Tissue Authority, said: “The implementation of the Human Tissue Act should mean that more organs will be available from deceased donors. Steps can now be taken to preserve the organs from people who have died until their wishes are established, or, if their wishes are not known, consent is obtained from their family. People will be reassured that their wishes expressed while they were alive are now more likely to be followed.”

Chris Rudge, Transplant and Managing Director of UK Transplant, said: “There is a critical shortage of donated organs and many more people could receive a life-saving transplant with the donor’s wishes being given priority. The Human Tissue Act makes it clear that the wishes of the deceased must be put first. NHS staff are aware that we have a duty to respect the wishes of a patient after their death and if someone has expressed a wish to donate, they should do whatever they can to ensure that those wishes are fulfilled.
 
“If the family or those close to the person who has died object to their donation, for whatever reason, healthcare professionals will discuss the matter sensitively with them and encourage them to fulfil the dead person’s wishes. We know that in most cases families will agree to donation if they know that was their loved one’s wish. There may, nevertheless, be circumstances where it would be inappropriate for donation to go ahead.”