Body part left at town bus depot

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A body part which was to be used in an operation was left overnight at a bus station after an administrative error.

An NHS spokesman said an inquiry was under way into how a cornea ended up in a National Express parcel depot at Northampton bus station on 5 August.

The cornea should have been taken to the town's hospital that day, but when the courier arrived the depot was shut.

The spokesman added that moving body parts by public transport to save money had been happening "for years".

'Missed connection'

Delivery firm TNT was unable to collect the cornea when its driver arrived at Northampton bus station on the evening of 5 August because the National Express office was closed.

The body part was finally released and used in an operation at Northampton General Hospital the following day.

The NHS spokesman told BBC News: "There was a delay in the delivery of a donated cornea to the Northampton General Hospital.

Using coach services to transport corneas for transplantation is something that has happened for many years NHS spokesman

"It arose following a missed connection between two approved handlers but the agreed protocol in such circumstances was followed and the package was locked up in a known location and appropriate authorities informed.

"The package was safely delivered to the hospital the next morning and the cornea was transplanted as planned that day.

"A full investigation has been launched into what caused the delay with a view to learning any lessons from the incident."

UK Transport for Transplant (UKTFT) - part of West Midlands Ambulance Service - is the organisation employed by UK Transplant to move donated organs and tissue for transplant.

'Approved protocols'

"UKTFT sub-contract out the transport to a number of carriers who have to meet a number of agreed standards and the contracts are regularly reviewed to ensure a high quality is provided" the spokesman continued.

"Using coach services to transport corneas for transplantation is something that has happened for many years.

"Decisions over transporting organs and tissue take account of the type of organ being carried, the amount of time available and the distances involved."

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We work to protocols approved by UK Transport for Transplant.

"This means that the time frames for organs or tissue can be very different, depending on what they are."