Advisory Groups
The Advisory Groups are the key fora for clinicians and scientists to meet with representatives from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), commissioners and Departments of Health and others to review and develop policies, assess outcomes, and work with partners and stakeholders to improve outcomes for patients. The structure and role of the Advisory Groups has recently been reviewed (see link) and recommendations made from which changes will be implemented. The Chairs, who are all elected with independent input, meet at the Chairs of the Advisory Groups Committee. The Advisory Groups report to the Organ Donation and Transplantation (ODT) Senior Management Team.
The solid organ advisory groups discuss:
- Donation activity
- Transplant activity
- Waiting times
- Equity of access
- Selection and organ allocation
- Transplant outcomes and research
The most recent minutes and agendas for the solid organ advisory meetings can be found within the respective organ's section within Transplantation, quick links are available on the right hand side.
Membership
Each Solid Organ Advisory Group has representation on the membership from the British Transplantation Society (BTS) these are:
- Cardiothoracic Advisory Group: Prof John Dark
- Kidney Advisory Group: Dr Richard Baker
- Liver Advisory Group: Prof Derek Manas
- Pancreas Advisory Group: Prof Derek Manas
- Bowel Advisory Group: To be confirmed
- National Retrieval Group: Prof Derek Manas
- National Organ Donation Committee: Prof Derek Manas
- Chairs of Advisory Group Committee: Prof Derek Manas (BTS President)
Lay members
Each Solid Organ Advisory Group has appointed 2 members to each of the Advisory Groups; the appointment of these Lay Members will complement and not replace the work with patients and patient groups. The appointed Members are:
- Bowel Advisory Group: Ms Melissa D`Mello, Prof Elizabeth Murphy
- Cardiothoracic Advisory Group: Dame Joan McVittie, Mrs Margaret Harrison
- Kidney Advisory Group: Mrs Kathleen Preston, Mrs Julia Mackisack
- Liver Advisory Group: Mrs Lynne Vernon Mrs Sarah Matthew,
- Pancreas Advisory Group: Mrs Julia Mackisack, Mrs Hazel Bentall
- National Retrieval Group Ms Victoria Fox, Ms Melissa D`Mello
- Research, Innovation & Novel Technologies Advisory Group: Prof Elizabeth Murphy, Mrs Hazel Bentall
- National Organ Donation Committee: To be advised
Lay members are not clinicians and will not become involved with clinical decisions about individual patients. If a patient or a family member has a concern with a clinical decision, then they should raise this with the clinician concerned in the first instance and, if not satisfied, contact the hospital involved. Patients declined for transplantation may ask for a second opinion.
