A Highland hospital’s way of dealing with a multiple organ retrieval procedure could become a blueprint for other remote teams across Scotland.
A recent donation of multiple organs at the Belford Hospital in Fort William has been hailed as a great success.
And it is hoped that lessons can be learned from the Lochaber hospital that will enable similar retrievals at other hospitals without intensive care facilities across the Highlands and islands – and beyond.
Consultant anaesthetist Dr Kevin Holliday, who is clinical lead in organ donation for NHS Highland, said the multiple retrieval at the Belford had been carried out in the past six months.
He said: “This is a big step forward for remote and rural hospitals.”
And he pointed out that the Belford was particularly well-placed to carry out organ retrieval due to the high number of trauma incidents in the area.
Dr Holliday said: “The important thing here is that someone had a discussion with their family and indicated that in difficult times, if there was the opportunity, they wanted to be an organ donor.
“This may have just been a wee chat, but it made an enormous difference to the people who received the organs and to the way the person who has died is remembered.
“One multiple organ retrieval commonly helps seven people.”
In a paper to be presented to today’s (Tuesday) meeting of the NHS Highland board, chief executive Elaine Mead says staff at the Belford are to be applauded for responding to the wishes of the donor.
Ms Mead wrote: “Through their efforts and teamwork, support was summoned from the national transplant programme.
“This resulted in a situation where someone, somewhere in the UK took a major leap from life threatening organ failure to returning to health.
“Through the donation of multiple organs several people have had a future restored as a result of the team in the Belford Hospital.
“That organ retrieval can occur in a smaller hospital, one without extensive critical care facilities, is a significant step forward for the people of the Highlands to contribute to the organ donation programme, and for the people of the Highlands to demonstrate an altruistic legacy after they pass.”
She added that a detailed review was being carried out to identify what made this successful and any lessons to be learned.
Ms Mead said: “The successful retrieval has prompted wider discussions across other rural general hospitals, as well as nationally, to look at what support needs to be in place going forward.”
