Specialist Transportation for Tissue Services

NHS Blood and Transplant Tissue and Eye Services are the largest multi-tissue banking organisation in the UK, managing the deceased tissue donation programme, where tissues such as eyes, bones, tendons, skin, cartilage and heart valves are retrieved from donors after death.<br/><br/>NHS Blood and Transplant have specialist retrieval teams based in Liverpool and Barnsley; normal practice is for the teams to travel to hospital mortuaries to facilitate deceased donor tissue donations, however NHS Blood and Transplant are changing our working methods to maximise deceased tissue donation throughout mainland Northern England, North Wales and the Midlands. There may be exceptional circumstances where coverage may extend outside these regions.<br/><br/>NHS Blood and Transplant wish to advise that a contract opportunity to provide the specialised transportation of deceased tissue donors and associated blood samples between NHS Blood and Transplant Tissue and Eye Services Dedicated Donation Facility (DDF) - Liverpool and Hospital Mortuaries primarily in Northern England, North Wales and the Midlands is due to be published.<br/><br/>Interested parties must be able to facilitate a transfer or return 24 hours per day, 365 days per year – as collections and deliveries may be required outside of normal core working hours (8:30 – 17:00) – a maximum of three donors per day.<br/><br/>All donors must be transported in a suitable, unidentifiable vehicle with blacked-out rear windows (where appropriate). The contractor must also provide a suitable trolley and body bag which must be be secured in the vehicle during transit. All vehicles must comply with all relevant legislation and be maintained and presented to the highest practical standards at all times.<br/><br/>The transport of donors to the DDF must be facilitated within strict timelines – 48 hours following death; donation of eyes within 24 hours following death. Therefore a rapid response to the collection of a deceased donor for transportation to the DDF, is vital to ensure that donation occurs. The maximum time period available is governed by the time the consent is gained therefore reducing the available donation window period and maximum transfer time to NHS Blood and Transplant - Liverpool. Any untoward delay in transportation could result in the loss of organ donation and tissues. This could impact on NHS Blood and Transplant’s ability to fulfil its core purpose of helping to save and improve patient lives.