New clinical head of organ donation for NHSBT

NHS Blood and Transplant has appointed Dale Gardiner as the UK’s new national Clinical Lead for Organ Donation.

Dale is a Consultant in Adult Intensive Care Medicine at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and was previously the UK’s Deputy National Clinical Lead for Organ Donation.

Dale comes into a post at NHS Blood and Transplant previously held by Paul Murphy, who has retired after helping to transform organ donation in the UK. Last year, there were 1575 deceased organ donors in the UK, the highest ever number.

Dale’s other work has included serving for four years as a member of the UK Donation Ethics Committee.

Dale said: “The improvements to organ donation in the UK have been an incredible success, probably the biggest improvements in any NHS field over the last few years.

“Donation has gone from being unusual to usual. The next step is to make organ donation expected.

“Part of that will involve working within potentially new legislative frameworks with ‘opt out’ systems proposed for England and Scotland.

“What I really want to build on is the sense of pride in donation. That organ donation is something society, donors and their families, and the doctors and nurses delivering care, are all proud to be part of.

“The thing I am most proud of, from my work so far with NHS Blood and Transplant, is leading the creation of the Order of St John Awards for Organ Donation. These awards are now held annually around the UK and they honour deceased donors.

“Because for me, the most humbling moments of my career remain those times when a family looks beyond their grief and says that simple word ‘yes’ to organ donation.”

• Tell your family you want to donate and then join the NHS Organ Donor Register at www.organdonation.nhs.uk

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• For additional information please contact the NHSBT Press Office on 01923 367 600 or email pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk
•  For out of hours enquiries please call: 0117 969 2444

Notes to editors

• NHS Blood and Transplant is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority. We are responsible for ensuring a safe and efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS in England. We are also the organ donation organisation for the UK and are responsible for matching and allocating donated organs.