Too few Scots for own transplant organ pool

Published on Thursday 19 November 2009 21:55

THE Scottish population is not large enough to provide the number of organs needed for transplant operations, and an independent Scotland would have to remain in the UK-wide pool of organ allocation, the Scottish Government has conceded.

According to the latest consultation paper from the SNP's National Conversation, organ arrangements are one area of cross-border health co-operation that should continue if the Union is broken up.

It points out that NHS procedures see organ donations organised across the UK to ensure the best match between donor and recipient, adding: "The need for organs does not respect national boundaries, and Scotland does not have a large enough population to be self-sufficient in the supply of organs.

"Therefore, maintaining the current UK-wide allocation arrangements in an independent Scotland would ensure optimal access to organs for every citizen who requires a transplant."

But Labour's Dr Richard Simpson said a deal would need to be struck with the remainder of the UK on how Scotland would continue to use the service.

"Unless there was some agreement with the residual rump of the UK, we would need to set up our own organ transplant organisation," he said. "It is just another example of where we would have additional costs to achieve the same object."

The consultation paper, which also deals with housing, crime and benefits, says existing cross-border agreements for the provision of specialist healthcare services within the EU and UK should remain. It warns that the supply of blood across the UK would need to be maintained in order to comply with European Union rules.

And the current arrangements for cross-border co-operation in other areas of healthcare and NHS pay should continue even if the Union is broken up, according to the consultation.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government pointed out the Scottish health service was already distinct within the UK. "This is standard practice and procedure in the various health services in the UK and the EU," he added.

"There is no reason to think the current arrangements would not continue."