Written question asked by Nick Palmer (Labour) on Thursday, 27 July 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 October 2000. It was answered by John Denham (Labour) on Monday, 23 October 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of how up-to-date the names and addresses on the NHS Organ Donor Register are; how frequently the NHS Organ Donor Register was accessed in 1999 by hospitals seeking donors.

Answer: Dr. Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of how up-to-date the names and addresses on the NHS Organ Donor Register are; [133976] (2) how frequently the NHS Organ Donor Register was accessed in 1999 by hospitals seeking donors. [133977] Mr. Denham: The Department has asked the United Kingdom Transplant to review the most effective ways to ensure all the data on the Organ Donor Register are up to date. This includes consideration of the information provided by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and general practitioners. Access to the National Health Service Organ Donor Register is via a 24-hour service at United Kingdom Transplant. Transplant co-ordinators mainly employed by local transplant centres may access the Register and during 1999 did so on only a handful of occasions, although this is currently not formally recorded.

Secondary information