Ann-Margaret Little and Justin Adams
Ann-Margaret Little is the DI at the Anthony Nolan Trust, which maintains a register of people who have volunteered to donate their bone marrow to help people with diseases like leukaemia. Their bone marrow bank has an HTA licence to ensure the quality and safety of the samples. Justin Adams had been on the Anthony Nolan Trust register for 11 years. Earlier this year, the Trust found a match for his bone marrow.
Ann-Margaret Little, Anthony Nolan Trust
"The Anthony Nolan Trust saves lives thanks to over 390,000 UK residents who have volunteered to donate their bone marrow to any patient in need. We maintain a register of prospective donors, which can be searched to try to find a match for someone who needs a stem cell transplant. We are articularly targeting young adults and those from minority ethnicities to get them to join the register.
"The register has given the chance of life to over 5000 patients since 1974 and we have always strived for high standards. 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."
Justin Adams, bone marrow donor
"I have been on the Anthony Nolan Trust register for 11 years. In October I got a letter and was surprised to find that the Trust had found a match for me.
"I had to go for more tests and I was very aware that someone out there needed my bone marrow and I just wanted to get on with it. But everyone was very nice and helpful; they were keen to make sure I really understood what would happen. It is good to know that this area is regulated; it's important that someone is checking that there is no bad practice.
"My bone marrow went to help a young boy, but I don't know anything else about him. I want everyone to know that the process is not very painful.
"I would gladly do it again and I would recommend it to anyone. It's such a simple way to give someone the chance to live. I can think of no good enough reason to justify not becoming a donor."