UKT donor registry

The South West currently has the highest proportion of the population on the UKT donor registry 28% compared with a national average of 22%.

The South West donor transplant co-ordination team presently consists of 4 whole time equivalent Donor Transplant Co-ordinators covering a population of 2.2 million people in the counties of Hampshire, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. They are responsible for maximising the quality and quantity of organs and tissues available for transplantation and accept direct referrals regarding any dying person 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The only absolute contra-indications are HIV or CJD. They are always happy to advise and discuss any issues and a named co-ordinator is linked to each intensive care unit implementing Hospital Development Strategies in the 7 acute Trusts,

The Donor Transplant Co-ordinators raise public awareness in donation and transplantation by attending events such as the Devon County & Royal Cornwall shows, Lord Mayors Day Plymouth and public information stands in the regions Hospitals and certain supermarkets during national transplant week every July.

The team are planning a regional symposium "Management of the Donor" for early 2007. This aims to bring together expertise and discussion into the provision of an increased quantity and quality of organs for transplantation.

They are also currently working on highlighting the effects to clinical practice for health care professionals and Trusts when the Human Tissue Act 2004 comes into force in September 2006 in relation to Transplantation and Donation issues.