TRANSPLANT patients could soon be at the cutting edge of treatment after plans to build a new national centre of excellence at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital were announced.
To mark the start of organ donation week, which runs until September 26, the University Hospital Birmingham Charity revealed plans for the Birmingham Transplant Centre at the QE.
Although the hospital has a very active transplant with world leading surgeon and cutting edge equipment – the charity want to do more for those in need of life changing surgery.
The charity, which also raises funds for Solihull, Heartlands and Good Hope Hospitals, says the new centre will allow patients to visit just one area of the hospital, bringing all the specialist care to them, including pre-transplant consultations, additional fitness classes before surgery, patient support groups, and rehabilitation classes after surgery.
It also says the £2million project will be home to world leading surgeons and researchers who are at the forefront of research and technology extending the success of transplantation.
A statement released by UHB Charity said: “It will put Birmingham on the map as a leader in transplantation.
“It is incredibly important to support our patients on this life changing journey and make this transition as easy as possible for them and their families.
“The ability to enhance patient experience by bringing this new centre to Birmingham will enable patients to focus on doing their own part in ensuring they are in the best position possible to make the surgery a success and then focus on their recovery.”
For more, to donate or to become a Friend of the Birmingham Transplant Centre visit https://www.hospitalcharity.org/birminghamtransplantcentre
DURING Organ Donation Week, September 20 to 26, NHS Blood and Transplant is urging people in Worcestershire to talk to their families about organ donation.
It is estimated that, nationwide, more than 7,000 people, including 200 children, are currently predicted to be in need of an organ transplant.
This includes 46 people on the waiting list for a transplant from Worcestershire.
After a most challenging year for the NHS and people across the world, waiting lists for organs including kidney, heart, liver, lungs, are expected to rise and NHS Blood and Transplant is calling for more local families to talk and share their organ donation decision to increase the chances of the many children, young people and adults in need of their own life-saving call.
Last year, 21 people in Worcestershire had their lives saved by a transplant after someone died and donated their organs.
Anthony Clarkson, director of organ and tissue donation and transplantation, at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We urge all family members of all ages in Worcestershire to take a moment this Organ Donation Week to talk and share your decision.”
For more information, or to register your organ donation decision, visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23. NHS app users can also use the service to record, check or update their organ donation decision.
