Richard Burden MP | Northfield MP welcomes announcement on Transplant Services:September 2001

Northfield MP welcomes announcement on Transplant Services:September 2001

Richard Burden MP (Birmingham Northfield) today released a brief statement welcoming today's announcement from the Department of Health which maintained heart and lung transplant services at each of the six centres around the country. “This is extremely good news for Birmingham and the entire region. Looking to the future the continued work of the world-renowned transplant centre at the QE along with the new hospital to be built in South Birmingham gives great cause for optimism in terms of the NHS in Birmingham.” He added: “The strength of feeling in my constituency and the response to the Birmingham Post's campaign has been overwhelming, and that acts as a tribute to the excellent work and first-rate staff at the centre” A spokesman for Mr Burden added:

“This has been a difficult problem for the Government. Recent medical advances and improved road safety measures have reduced the number of early deaths in Britain - something for which we are all grateful. However this has also meant a reduction in the number of transplants because fewer organs are available. Today's decision to maintain all six centres around the country under strict quality monitoring arrangements was a prudent one and shows a commitment by the Government to tackle this problem. The Government have also committed themselves to increasing the number of donor organs available for use in transplants by 10%. We can now be confident that the heart of England will not lose its heart transplant service”.