News
Stay informed of our latest news and developments
If you need information for a story or an authoritative source, please contact our press office:
- 01923 367600 (open 24 hours a day)
- pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk
![](/remote.axd/nhsbtdbe.blob.core.windows.net/umbraco-assets-corp/18125/liverpool-donor-centre-001.jpg?crop=0.15535097813578827,0,0.098964326812428088,0&cropmode=percentage&width=144&height=144&rnd=132297788310000000&quality=70)
Coronavirus update
How we're working to respond to the challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
![](/remote.axd/nhsbtdbe.blob.core.windows.net/umbraco-assets-corp/18965/plasma-being-collected-cropped.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=144&height=144&rnd=132406588070000000&quality=70)
UK plasma ban lifted
NHSBT welcomes the decision by ministers to lift the ban on UK plasma for fractionation following a review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM).
![](/remote.axd/nhsbtdbe.blob.core.windows.net/umbraco-assets-corp/22169/anna_t-day.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=144&height=144&rnd=132582137540000000&quality=70)
World-first paediatric heart transplant technique boosts number of life-saving operations for children in the UK
Using a technique that ‘reanimates’ the heart outside of the body, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Royal Papworth Hospital and NHS Blood & Transplant expand the donor pool and perform six paediatric heart transplants in 2020
![](/remote.axd/nhsbtdbe.blob.core.windows.net/umbraco-assets-corp/22165/prof-shaw-grid.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=144&height=144&rnd=132582103100000000&quality=70)
New organ donation process enables pioneering diabetes research
Pioneering research into the causes and treatment of diabetes will be led by Newcastle University thanks to a new national programme allowing scientists to study the pancreases of people with the condition.
![](/remote.axd/nhsbtdbe.blob.core.windows.net/umbraco-assets-corp/22020/nhsbtfeb15.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=144&height=144&rnd=132574438320000000&quality=70)
Muslim community ambassadors launch appeal to donate plasma for COVID research
A new appeal launched today is urging more men from Muslim communities nationwide who have had Covid-19 to register as plasma donors.
![](/remote.axd/nhsbtdbe.blob.core.windows.net/umbraco-assets-corp/22010/nhs_006.jpg?crop=0.080416666666666664,0,0.34058333333333335,0&cropmode=percentage&width=144&height=144&rnd=132573619800000000&quality=70)
New NHS campaign urges people to talk to family and ‘Leave Them Certain’ about organ donation
The NHS is launching a new campaign to urge families to talk about organ donation following research that less than half of adults in England have had the conversation.
![](/remote.axd/nhsbtdbe.blob.core.windows.net/umbraco-assets-corp/21941/img_2206.jpg?center=0.57284768211920534,0.48494983277591974&mode=crop&width=144&height=144&rnd=132570162330000000&quality=70)
Alfie is youngest COVID survivor to donate plasma for research
Alife Watts has become the youngest person to beat coronavirus and donate convalescent plasma for coronavirus research.
![](/remote.axd/nhsbtdbe.blob.core.windows.net/umbraco-assets-corp/21109/model3-1reta-min-cropped.jpg?center=0.43236074270557029,0.50778210116731515&mode=crop&width=144&height=144&rnd=132557840040000000&quality=70)
Convalescent plasma donations for COVID-19 restarting
NHS Blood and Transplant is restarting COVID-19 convalescent plasma donations, after discussions with the Department of Health and Social Care.
![](/remote.axd/nhsbtdbe.blob.core.windows.net/umbraco-assets-corp/21181/plasma-bags.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=144&height=144&rnd=132543301050000000&quality=70)
RECOVERY trial stops treating patients with convalescent plasma
Interim results do not show evidence that convalescent plasma has an overall benefit on patient outcomes in moderately ill people.
![](/remote.axd/nhsbtdbe.blob.core.windows.net/umbraco-assets-corp/21042/473920-020a-min.jpg?crop=0.14351851851851855,0,0.18981481481481471,0&cropmode=percentage&width=144&height=144&rnd=132548333080000000&quality=70)
Update on plasma donations needed to complete trials
If you've had COVID please continue donating plasma to support the conclusion of the trials.
![](/remote.axd/nhsbtdbe.blob.core.windows.net/umbraco-assets-corp/18261/test-tubes-being-filled.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=144&height=144&rnd=132309154700000000&quality=70)
Statement: the coronavirus variant and convalescent plasma
There's no evidence that the B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant evolved from a patient treated with plasma
To access articles older than those shown on these pages, please contact our press office on:
Tel: 01923 367600 (open 24 hours a day)
Email: pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk