Organ Transplants (Hansard, 12 February 1985)

§ Mr. John Patten

The Government support organ transplantation, which can relieve suffering and prolong life. The transplantation of kidneys and of corneas are well established and very successful procedures, and good results are now also being obtained with heart and with liver transplants. The provision of facilities for organ transplantation is the responsibility of health authorities, but the Department has made substantial grants to the heart transplant programmes at Papworth and Harefield hospitals and to the liver transplant programme at Addenbrooke's hospital; liver transplantation will be funded as a supra regional service from April of this year. The Department also plays a major part in increasing public awareness of the benefits of organ transplantation and in promoting the donor card scheme; a publicity campaign was launched in February last year and has proved very successful. We shall be considering shortly whether further initiatives are needed to maintain its momentum. In the first nine months after the start of the kidney campaign kidney transplants increased by 35 per cent.