Ban on private transplants

The private transplant of organs from deceased donors is to be banned in the UK.

The government has made the move after it was highlighted in the press that foreign patients had been paying for the organs of deceased UK citizens.

It is expected that such a ban could be in place as early as October.

The move would mean that all people who live in the EU could be subject to tighter rules regarding transplants on the NHS.

Former chairwoman of the Organ Donation Taskforce, Elisabeth Buggins, published the independent report.

Health minister Ann Keen commented: "I am grateful to Elisabeth Buggins for her work on this important issue.

"We accept her recommendations and will now take these forward to ensure a UK system that is fair and transparent and one which patients and potential donors can have trust and confidence in."

Ms Buggins did point out in her report that there was no evidence that foreign patients who had paid privately for transplants in the UK had received the organs any quicker than British people on NHS waiting lists.

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