Funding announced to encourage living donation within BAME communities

A new Living Transplant Initiative, funded by NHS Blood and Transplant and led by the National BAME Transplant Alliance, is now open for submissions. The initiative has very clear objectives; with the primary objective to increase the number of living transplants from BAME communities by ten by March 2018.

NBTA has been allocated up to £90k for this initiative by NHS Blood and Transplant up to 31 March 2018. The initiative aims to address the fact that there has been a drop in the number of living transplants over the last two years and limited promotion of BAME living transplants in the UK.

Sally Johnson, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant said: "With only 5% of all deceased organ donors currently come from black and Asian backgrounds, living donation can be the life-saving opportunity a patient waiting for a transplant desperately needs. With increased awareness and improved information, we hope that more potential living donors will come forward and more patients will have their lives saved or transformed."

Orin Lewis OBE, Co-chair of NBTA and Chief Executive of ACLT (African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust) said “The NBTA applauds NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) for committing its funds and trust in our members to delivering this initiative on behalf of the various UK BAME communities. This NHSBT funded initiative is a major “game changer” for BAME communities in relation to living donor transplantation."

For further information please read "invitation to make submissions for the living transplant initiative".