HELPING TO SAVE LIVES
Date : 24.07.07  Plymouth Evening Herald
Local businesses have come to the aid of the South West Transplant Centre by providing a car for transporting organs in emergencies.The Plymouth-based centre has received the state-of-the-art Suzuki Grand Vitara thanks to Burrows Ethical and Medical, Quay Garage in Kingsbridge and Suzuki. Rachel Stoddard-Murden, donor transplant co-ordinator, said the vehicle will be used through the region to help the centre continue its lifesaving work. "We are very grateful to the companies for providing us with this car," she said. "It will enable us to travel to the hospitals in the counties of Cornwall, Devon and Dorset for organ donation and transplantation purposes." She added: "The progress the South West Transplant Centre has made in the last three years has meant we have been able to undertake a record number of kidney transplant operations for our patients." The Vitara will allow the team to respond to donation requests as quickly and safely as possible. It is equipped with emergency response lights and recognisable by logos of Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, the South West Transplant Centre and the sponsors. Burrows are providing road support for the transplant and donation team, and Quay Garage and Suzuki have given a year's sponsorship. Paul Roberts, chief executive of Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "I would like to say a big thank you to all the local businesses that have so generously supported the transplant centre in improving lives through donation and transplantation. "Last year was the most successful year on record for the centre team." Fifty-three transplants were carried out in 2006 - the highest number since the first transplant was performed at the hospital in 1973. For further information on donating organs or joining the organ donor register, please contact 0845 6060400, or visit www.uktransplant.org.uk dprince@eveningherald.co.uk
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