Tissue donation in Scotland

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) provides a dedicated 24/7 tissue donation service in Scotland.

Most people dying in hospital or in a hospice can be considered for tissue donation, whereas usually only people dying in an Intensive Care Unit or the Emergency Department have the option of organ (with or without tissue) donation.

Tissue donor coordinators take referrals from medical and nursing staff in all clinical areas. If donors are assessed as suitable, tissue donor coordinators will approach families for authorisation in compliance with the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 as amended by the 2019 act and progress the donor through the donation process.

Tissue donor coordinators and specialist nurses in organ donation work to the same legislative safeguards and requirements – for example, the duty to inquire, pre-death procedures and type of authorisation, express, deemed or nearest relative or person with parental responsibilities and rights.

Commonly, the potential tissue donor’s nearest relative will have already left the hospital so authorisation will be taken over the phone or via virtual technology.

Occasionally, clinical staff caring for the deceased’s family may be asked to undertake the duty to inquire in the first instance. Tissue donor coordinators will provide advice and direction if this is required.

Between 50-70% of organ donors will also donate tissue like heart tissue, tendons and eyes and the specialist nurses in organ donation work collaboratively with the tissue donor coordinators to ensure no donation opportunity is overlooked.

Further information

Visit the Scotblood website for details on how the SNBTS supplies human tissues and cells for transplantation in Scotland.

The Organ Donation Scotland website provides general information about organ and tissue donation for the public.