NHS blames computer error for transplant fouls
The NHS Blood and Transfusion service has apologised for a computer error which meant that some people had organs removed incorrectly, or presumably not removed, because their preferences were wrongly recorded in the database.
The mistake affects 800,000 people who had their transplant wishes wrongly imported from the DVLA.
The NHS Blood and Transfusion service stressed that only 21 people had died with the incorrect details on their records. In these cases the families had given permission for donation to go ahead but individuals' preferences may have been incorrectly recorded.
The service said: "We sincerely apologise for any distress this may have caused. We can reassure everyone that no organs have been donated without the support of the deceased's nearest relatives and that no one has been registered as a donor against their wishes."
The group blamed a "technical error" which only affected those who had registered their preferences via the driving license application form. It will be contacting those on the database to check their preferences have been recorded correctly.
The mistake came to light when the service began writing to people thanking them for joining the Organ Donor Register.
The full statement from the NHS:
Recording of incorrect data on the NHS Organ Donor Register
We have identified a technical error in recording information on the NHS Organ Donor Register. This only affects those who have registered via the driving licence application form.
We assure everyone currently on the organ donor register that the affected records will not be used in discussions with their family about organ donation. They will only be used once they have been corrected in accordance with the donors' wishes. We will shortly be writing to all those on the register who may be affected to confirm their preferences.
Anyone else on the register who is not contacted can be confident that their record is accurate.
There are a small number of cases, 21 over the past six years, where the person has died and their preferences may not have been correctly recorded. In each case the family gave permission for the donation to take place, but it may not have been in line with the individual's preferences. We will be contacting the affected families as a matter of urgency. There could be a small number of additional cases. We are still checking our records to ensure that other donors or families have not been similarly affected.
The vast majority of people on the ODR do not need to take any action. If you are registered on the ODR and haven't been contacted by us then there's nothing you need to do, we can assure you that the problem is being fixed.
We sincerely apologise for any distress this may have caused. We can reassure everyone that no organs have been donated without the support of the deceased's nearest relatives and that no one has been registered as a donor against their wishes.
The mistake affects 800,000 people who had their transplant wishes wrongly imported from the DVLA.
The NHS Blood and Transfusion service stressed that only 21 people had died with the incorrect details on their records. In these cases the families had given permission for donation to go ahead but individuals' preferences may have been incorrectly recorded.
The service said: "We sincerely apologise for any distress this may have caused. We can reassure everyone that no organs have been donated without the support of the deceased's nearest relatives and that no one has been registered as a donor against their wishes."
The group blamed a "technical error" which only affected those who had registered their preferences via the driving license application form. It will be contacting those on the database to check their preferences have been recorded correctly.
The mistake came to light when the service began writing to people thanking them for joining the Organ Donor Register.
The full statement from the NHS:
Recording of incorrect data on the NHS Organ Donor Register
We have identified a technical error in recording information on the NHS Organ Donor Register. This only affects those who have registered via the driving licence application form.
We assure everyone currently on the organ donor register that the affected records will not be used in discussions with their family about organ donation. They will only be used once they have been corrected in accordance with the donors' wishes. We will shortly be writing to all those on the register who may be affected to confirm their preferences.
Anyone else on the register who is not contacted can be confident that their record is accurate.
There are a small number of cases, 21 over the past six years, where the person has died and their preferences may not have been correctly recorded. In each case the family gave permission for the donation to take place, but it may not have been in line with the individual's preferences. We will be contacting the affected families as a matter of urgency. There could be a small number of additional cases. We are still checking our records to ensure that other donors or families have not been similarly affected.
The vast majority of people on the ODR do not need to take any action. If you are registered on the ODR and haven't been contacted by us then there's nothing you need to do, we can assure you that the problem is being fixed.
We sincerely apologise for any distress this may have caused. We can reassure everyone that no organs have been donated without the support of the deceased's nearest relatives and that no one has been registered as a donor against their wishes.
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