England and Organ Recovery0

England’s National Health Service (NHS) established in 2005 a Special Health Authority, the NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). NHSBT’s mission is “the provision of a reliable, efficient supply of blood, organs and associated services to the NHS.”

NHSBT recently announced that in 2010 there were more than 6,900 organ and cornea transplants throughout the United Kingdom, and over 2 million donations of blood were collected in England and North Wales. 2010 also saw a record number of patients across the UK receive a transplant while the number of people on the NHS Organ Donor Register reached 17.7 million.

According to Lynda Hamlyn, Chief Executive at NHSBT:

“We rely entirely on the generosity of donors who make the difference to so many patients who need lifesaving transfusions and transplants. I would like to thank every one of our regular blood donors and those who have joined the NHS Organ Donor Register. This has allowed us to help save and improve more lives in 2010 than ever before. [¶] Donation saves lives, and as we start a new year and a new decade, I would encourage anyone interested in helping save and improve the lives of others to consider becoming a blood donor, if they can, and joining the NHS Organ Donor Register by calling 0300123 23 23 or visiting our websites. [¶] Our priority is to maintain the goodwill and support of our generous donors – be they blood or organ. But at the same time we are mindful of the current economic climate and are particularly proud that we achieved these record results while continuing to deliver overall cost savings of nearly £30million. Money that can be reinvested in front-line patient care in the wider NHS.”

Even while the UK saw more transplant operations in 2010 than ever before, an estimated 10,000 patients remain in need of a transplant in the UK. About 3 people a day will die before an organ becomes available. Hamlyn noted: “Thanks to the altruism of donors and their families, a record number of organs were made available for transplantation in 2010 and a record number of peoples’ lives were saved or improved as a result.”

The full announcement can be read HERE.

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