These links are provided for additional reference and information only and do not constitute any form of endorsement by UK Transplant
UK Transplant is an operating division of NHS Blood and Transplant as are the National Blood Service and the Bio Products Laboratory
If you are aware of a site that might be of interest to users of the UK Transplant website please contact the Webmaster with further details.
Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO)
The Committee advises Ministers of the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations, as well as UK Health Departments, on the most appropriate ways to ensure the safety of blood, cells, tissues and organs for transfusion/transplantation.
Eye banks and associated websites
There are several Eye Banks distributed across the UK.
Corneal Transplant Service Eye Banks in the UK
In October 1983 the Corneal Transplant Service (CTS) was launched by the former UK Transplant Service with support from the Iris Fund for the Prevention of Blindness.
A national distribution network was established, with the aim of improving the availability of corneas and to reduce wastage. A national waiting list for patients who needed tissue-matched grafts was also introduced.
There are two CTS eye banks in the UK:
The Bristol Eye Bank issued its first corneas for transplantation in March 1986 followed in 1988 by the Manchester Eye Bank.
The CTS is funded by the UK Departments of Health through contractual arrangements with UK Transplant and is overseen by the UK Transplant Ocular Tissue Advisory Group.
Other Eye Hospitals
The Moorfields Eye Hospital website includes an extensive section on eye health.
The Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead. Famous as the home of the Guinea Pig Club, the specialist facilities include the oldest eye bank in the UK which was identified in the 2000 Transplant Activity report as the hospital supplying the most corneas to CTS eye banks.
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)
HFEA is a non-departmental Government body that regulates and inspects all UK clinics providing IVF, donor insemination or the storage of eggs, sperm or embryos.
Human Tissue Authority (HTA)
The Human Tissue Authority is a new public body. Its role is to inform the public and the Secretary of State about issues surrounding the storage and use of human bodies and tissue, and removal of tissue from human bodies, for scheduled purposes.
The Authority will issue codes of practice covering consent, donation, post mortem, removal and anatomical examination. It will issue draft codes of practice for consultation, license a number of activities, and inspect facilities to ensure compliance with the Act and licence conditions.
In October 2007 the Government decided that the HTA and HFEA should continue as stand-alone regulators. This page provides background information about the proposal to form the Regulatory Authority for Tissue and Embryos (RATE) and the Government's decision that it should not proceed.
NHS Professionals
NHS Professionals enables nurses, doctors and other health care professionals to work when and where they want, to suit their own individual lifestyles. Besides flexibility, the service also provides staff with NHS benefits such as the NHS Pension Scheme and first choice of placements.
New Start - Wythenshawe Transplant Centre
The Wythenshawe covers a vast area around Manchester. In similar vein the website covers many subjects from Transplant Games to Dieticians Corner and from the New Start charity's successes to a wide range of information for both heart and lung patients.
Tissue donation-National Blood Service
In addition to running the country's blood donation and banking services the National Blood Service (NBS) also operates a tissue donation and banking programme, NBS Tissue Services. Many people can be considered for tissue donation after death as, unlike organs, tissues can be donated up to 24 hours after a person's heart has stopped beating.The tissues donated by one donor may enable up to 50 people to benefit from tissue transplant surgery.
ULTRA - The Unrelated Live Transplant Regulatory Authority
With effect from 1st September 2006, the functions carried out by ULTRA were transferred to the Human Tissue Authority (HTA). This change followed the full implementation of the Human Tissue Act 2004 and the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006.Use the link above to visit the HTA website.
UKXIRA - The United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Regulatory Authority
The United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority ceased to exist on 12 December 2006. The link above explains the DH policy position on xenotransplantation, describes approval processes and points to appropriate sources of expertise and advice for further information and support.
Welsh Assembly
Wales has a number of challenges with major health conditions. Among the health issues faced by the NHS is the fact that one third of all adults in Wales, an estimated 800,000 people, has at least one chronic condition. Many of these conditions, like cancer and heart disease, are no longer life threatening. This means that often they have become conditions people can live with rather than conditions that they will die from.Other chronic conditions include renal insufficiency and diabetes.