Latest news with #NHSBT
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Houghton heart donation recipient calls for change in rules
A woman who was the first baby to have a heart transplant in the UK says families should not be able to overturn a loved one's decision to donate their donations have almost tripled from 255 in 2020/21 to 680 in 2023/24, according to official figures, leading to an estimated 2,040 "missed opportunities" last Davidson-Olley, from Houghton-le-Spring, who had transplant surgery at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital in 1987, said lives were continuing to be Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said families were "always involved" in donation and they might have "important information" which was vital in understanding whether organs were safe for donation. Last year, families refusing donation gave reasons including not knowing what the patient wanted, feeling the donation process took too long, not wanting any further surgery to the body, or it was against religious and cultural research carried out by Bangor University found some families did not understand the soft opt-out laws, introduced in England in 2020, where patients are presumed to have given consent for donation unless they specifically opted out of the organ donation register. "The knock-on impact is lives won't be saved, it's as simple as that. Organs need to be used here, not in heaven," Ms Davidson-Olley, now 38, said."The figures [for organ donations] are extremely low, and we need to boost that up and we need public help to do that."Ms Davidson-Olley praised the NHS, but said the sole decision to remain opted-in to the Organ Donation Register should be honoured, where appropriate. According to the NHS, for every one donor, an average of three organs can be transplanted, potentially saving additional lives."You're giving a life, you're giving a gift, look at me 38 years post-transplant - I love my life and I couldn't be thankful enough to what I've been given," Ms Davidson-Olley said."Have the conversation [with your family] and share your wishes." Figures from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 showed that 140 families overruled a patient's "opt-in decision". A further 540 families did not support "deemed consent", where there is no expressed decision and so the patient is assumed to support organ all those cases, no donation went ahead. Terry Archbold previously told the BBC he and his partner were split over organ donation after their daughter Isabel was his partner Cheryl agreed, Mr Archbold said he had initially refused organ donation as he had never given the subject consideration, and a "protective instinct kicked in" that "didn't want anyone to touch her".However, it was only after having a discussion he said he realised they would be "hopefully saving other parents from experiencing the same feelings we had". Families consulted A spokesperson for NHSBT said families were often aware of a patient's "medical, travel and social history" and which was "vital to understanding" whether their organs were "safe to transplant", or had more recent information than a decision recorded on the donor said while families were expected to support a patient's decision to donate, the circumstances in which a person died were "often very sudden and traumatic", and said it was encouraging people to be clear with family members about their wishes."Families are far more likely to support donation when they already know it was what their relative wanted," the spokesperson said."Almost 90% of people honoured their family members decision last year when they had either registered their decision to donate on the NHS Organ Donor Register or had spoken with their family about wanting to be an organ donor."The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it was encouraging everybody to "register their decision" which "only takes two minutes and could save up to nine lives".A spokesperson added the DHSC was making it "as easy as possible" for those to record their preference on the register. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Blood donation: Rare blood donors wanted to help sickle cell patients
"I wouldn't say it's quite like a superpower but I do think it's amazing that something that you just happened to be born with can help so many people."Speaking inside the busiest blood donation centre in Europe, Julia Gryn, from Thornton Heath in south London, has popped into donate after 27-year-old is just one of about 100 donors on the NHS Blood and Transplant's (NHSBT) Rare Donor Panel. Out of about 800,000 blood donors, those on the panel make up just 0.01%.Speaking at London's West End Donor Centre on Margaret Street, she said: "I think it's really, really amazing that I can actually help someone with a genetic disorder." She added: "It's crazy to think that a single blood donation can help to save up to three lives." Julia's blood is rare because she lacks several of the most common antigens across multiple blood group the 350 known antigens, her unique combination does not include the K, M, S, Fya and Jkb, all of which are frequently found in the general blood type is especially important for those with sickle cell, a genetic blood disorder whereby patients develop antibodies against several blood types making it harder to find matching blood. Julia, who has donated blood since she was a teenager, was invited to join the Rare Donor Panel in May 2020, early in the Covid pandemic. "At the time, I thought my blood was completely ordinary," she joining the panel, she said it felt different from her regular donations."It feels much more personal. I'm told when a specific patient needs a closely matched donation, and I book in around that. Knowing there's someone waiting who needs exactly what I can give makes the experience feel more direct and meaningful."She added: "During my first donation, one of the team members told me that in their seven years working there, I was the first rare blood donor they'd encountered. That really stuck with me."Blood donation is an amazing thing - most people can do it, and it makes such a big difference." Dr Chiara Vendramin, speciality doctor in donor medicine for the panel said donors like Julia were difficult to find."Julia is a very special donor. She has been amazing through the several years that she has been donating."Rare donors are very important and they play a crucial role in our organisation because they allow us to meet the really complex blood requirements that we have for specific patients."Most of the blood of these blood requirements are for those with sickle cell disease."As for Julia, what would her message be to those worried about donating?"I would say it's honestly not as scary as some people think."I do get some of my co-workers and friends asking 'how does it go, is the needle really big?' Honestly, you don't even pay attention to it, it goes so quickly."Everyone is always so kind and I would say it's a small thing that you can really do to help and save lives."
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
NHS cannular method rolled out after Bristol success
An ultrasound service which means fewer patients need surgery has been rolled out to eight NHS units after its success in Bristol. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said its unit in the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre used ultrasound-guided cannulation 177 times for patients or donors in an eight-month period. A nurse uses an ultrasound machine to find a vein which cannot normally be found, it said. The procedure is used for people with illnesses including blood cancers and sickle cell disease. Medics added it helped avoid "multiple attempts at cannulation", the need to go into theatre for central line insertions and removals and reduced patients' time in hospital. The NHSBT said since the training began at its Bristol Therapeutic Apheresis Services (TAS) unit two years ago, it is thought more than 200 central line procedures had been avoided. And the method has now been rolled out to eight other TAS units in England. "Bristol is one of our busiest units and yet had the lowest rate of central line insertions thanks to this method," said Teresa Baines, Head of TAS at NHSBT. "A lot of our patients come to us for regular treatments and so to be able to avoid multiple attempts at cannulation or being taken to surgery for line insertion (and later removal) on every visit, makes a huge difference to the quality of their care."The NHSBT said the procedure could save patients up to half-a-day in hospital and also saves the NHS money. 'Much better experience' Tegan Rendell, 20, attends Bristol's TAS unit every eight weeks, for a plasma exchange to treat Autoimmune Limbic Encephalitis, an autoimmune disease that attacks her brain."My illness mean I need to undergo a lot of medical procedures and it can be really traumatic as my veins are so difficult to find," she said."There have been occasions where medics have tried to cannulate nine times and still not been successful, it's awful. "My arms end up black and blue and really sore. She said the plasma exchanges were "life-changing" and each time improved her quality of life. "I have fewer seizures, less headaches and generally feel so much better within myself. Even so, if I knew I faced the trauma of repeated cannulation attempts every time I needed a plasma exchange, I would really ultrasound guided cannulation – and the incredible nurses who do it – make my experience so much better than it might otherwise be."
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Why the UK is facing a critical blood shortage
The UK faces a critical blood shortage, with O-negative reserves nearing depletion due to recent bank holidays impacting donations. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) warns of a potential "red alert," the highest warning level, if donations don't increase, which would limit operations to prioritise blood for emergency procedures. Hospitals are down to less than three days' worth of O-negative blood, the universal blood type. NHSBT urges eligible donors, especially those with O blood types, to book appointments immediately. The combination of four bank holidays and half-term within six weeks significantly impacted blood supplies, alongside increased demand for O-type blood due to rising health conditions.
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
UK days away from running out of blood as stocks plummet to critical levels
The UK is just days away from running out of some blood reserves as stocks plummet to critical levels. NHS Blood and Transplant NHSBT, the body responsible for donations, warned it could be forced to trigger a red alert - the highest warning available - as hospital trusts have less than three days' worth of supplies of O-negative blood left. Donors have been urged to book an appointment to donate at their nearest centre to help the service avert a crisis. In a new alert on Wednesday, NHSBT said: 'Regrettably, despite active hospital support and the work of our donation teams, our stock of O D negative red cells is reducing, and we have some concern that, without increased intervention, we are at risk of having to declare a Red Alert.' If the NHS reaches red alert, it would result in 'severe and prolonged shortages, ' with hospitals having to limit operations to prioritise blood for emergency procedures. NHSBT aims to have six days' worth of stock for all types of red blood cells. But four bank holidays in close succession have meant supplies have dropped below this level for several types, with O-negative, which is a universal type that can be given to all patients, falling lowest. It told The Independent: 'We urgently need more appointments to be booked and attended to help boost stocks and maintain supply to hospitals.' 'We'd encourage anyone who can donate, especially those with O blood groups, to please book an appointment as soon as possible.' Earlier this month, NHSBT sent out a plea to fill 50,000 donation appointments after shortages worsened over the four bank holidays from April to May, as donations typically drop during holiday periods. According to the authority, hospitals need over 5,000 blood donations daily to ensure they have enough blood to treat patients. Stocks of O blood have consistently been at low levels over the last year and have remained at the 'amber' alert stage. In October, NHSBT warned that it had four weeks before it would have to move to red alert if donation levels didn't increase. The shortages were driven by increased demand and fewer O-negative donors.
