Scottish Donation and Transplant Group written update: August 2024

Tissue donation

Update given by:

• Dr Sharon Zahra, Clinical Lead, SNBTS
• Mr Neil Healy, Lead Nurse - Tissues and Cells, SNBTS

Tissue referrals

The Tissue Donor Co-ordinators team continues to see a significant turnover of staff due to staff members opting to go for promotion or retiring early; recruitment for replacement staff is ongoing. Despite this the team continue to engage with tissue donating hospitals to maintain awareness about tissue donation, providing training and feedback on a regular basis. 

During the first three months of this financial year there were 93 referrals for consideration of multi-tissue donation. There were a further 21 donors referred for eye only donation.

Tissue donation rates

In the first three months of this financial year six deceased donors donated multi-tissue. Five of these six donors donated tissue after organ donation, while the remaining donor donated tissue-only. These six donors donated five heart tissue products and eight tendons.

In the first three months of this financial year there were also 20 eyes retrieved by SNBTS from 10 eye donors. Discussions continue to identify how best to resource eye donation in Scotland.

Pancreatic islet programme 

The SNBTS islet isolation lab continues to provide an excellent life-saving service and continues to provide contingency across the UK while one of the islet labs in England remains in extended down-time. In the first three months of this financial year, until the end of June 2024, nine suitable pancreata were sent to Tissues, Cells and Advanced Therapeutics (TCAT), leading to a successful islet cell product in four cases (44%); of these 2 (22%) were successfully transplanted. 

The difference in number between successful islet products and number that were transplanted is multifactorial, including the cells not surviving an overnight hold or because the intended recipient became acutely unwell. 

Live bone donation

The bone stock remains in a stable position although continues to be monitored very regularly as in the first three months of this financial year the clinical usage has outstripped the donation rate. This has been because of a slightly higher than usual clinical demand coinciding with a slightly lower donation rate than aimed for. The lower donation rate was due to a high deferral rate of potential donors due to underlying medical conditions which mean that the bone would not be suitable for clinical use.

In the first three months of this financial year, up to the end of June 2024, 116 femoral heads were donated with 171 being used clinically. 

For the Assessment of Individualised Risk (FAIR) III changes

As previously reported the FAIR III changes were implemented for live tissue and cell donors in November 2023. Implementation of the changes for deceased donors remains on hold at the present time while discussions continue with NHSBT as to the changes that are required to the Medical and Social History (MaSH) (questionnaire used for the assessment of all UK organ and tissue donors). The MaSH is controlled and managed by NHSBT on behalf of the UK – discussions have continued but are yet to be finalised.