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Organ transplants fall in Scotland 'Lessons to learn' on organ donors
(about 4 hours later)
The number of patients receiving organ transplants in Scotland has fallen by 9% to 360. Lessons could be learned from a health board which increased its organ donors despite an overall drop in Scotland, the Scottish government has said.
According to the NHS Blood and Transplant service, in the 12 months up to March this year there was an 8% fall in the number of deceased donors in Scotland to 98. NHS Grampian has achieved a five-fold increase in deceased donors over the past four years, from three in 2010/11 to 15 in 2014/15.
The number of living donors also fell to 81. But the number of patients successfully receiving organ transplants in Scotland fell by by 9% to 360.
However, at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary there has been an increase in donations. There were also falls in the numbers of deceased and living organ donors.
According to the NHS Blood and Transplant service, the number of deceased donors in Scotland fell from 106 to 98 in the 12 months up to March of this year.
The number of living donors also fell slightly to 81.
Public health minister Maureen Watt said lessons could be learned from NHS Grampian, as she visited Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Ms Watt said: "We are making significant progress on organ donation. Since we started our plan of improvement in 2008 we have seen an 82% increase in deceased donor numbers; a 42% increase in the number of transplants undertaken and the active transplant waiting list has reduced by over 20%.
"I am particularly pleased to see such an improvement here in Grampian. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the many NHS staff across NHS Grampian who have worked tirelessly to make this possible.
"I am very aware that organ donation can only occur as a result of tragic circumstances and it is important that we pay tribute to the organ donors and to their families who made the decision to help others.
"We will now look to see what lessons can be learned from Grampian and see if this can be replicated in other hospitals in Scotland."
Dr Iain Macleod, the clinician in charge of organ donation for NHS Grampian, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We've spent a lot of time working with the team in the intensive care unit and we have specialist nurses who deal with donation.Dr Iain Macleod, the clinician in charge of organ donation for NHS Grampian, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We've spent a lot of time working with the team in the intensive care unit and we have specialist nurses who deal with donation.
"We're trying to make it normal practice to ask families, at what is a terrible time for them, if their loved ones would like to donate. Just by asking that question more often we are finding families are saying yes.""We're trying to make it normal practice to ask families, at what is a terrible time for them, if their loved ones would like to donate. Just by asking that question more often we are finding families are saying yes."
Public Health Minister Maureen Watt said lessons could be learned from NHS Grampian and replicated in other hospitals.
UK-wide the number of organ donations fell for the first time in 11 years with 224 fewer transplants.UK-wide the number of organ donations fell for the first time in 11 years with 224 fewer transplants.
Key Scottish figuresKey Scottish figures