In an unprecedented move, over 110 experts, individuals and organisations have signed an open letter to the Prime Minister (co-signatories listed below), urging immediate actions to address the shortage of organ, blood and stem cell in the UK. Spearheaded by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Ethnicity Transplantation and Transfusion, the letter calls for vital reforms to save lives and improve health outcomes for ethnic minority and mixed heritage communities.

The letter outlines three recommendations for the government: improved governance and accountability through a review of transplant pathways; enhanced data reporting and transparency to identify health disparities; and increased education and awareness to highlight the importance of donation. These recommendations come in the wake of the “Where are our nation’s donors?” report launched in December 2024, which sheds light on the significant challenges faced by patients from mixed heritage and ethnic minority communities in accessing life-saving treatments in the UK.

Sarah Olney MP, Group Chair

Emphasising the need for urgent action, Sarah Olney MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group said, “The unity and diversity of the signatories of this letter demonstrate the widespread recognition of the issues at hand and the collective will to address them. We are at a critical juncture where action can lead to significant improvements in health benefits, save many lives, and reduce the financial cost to the British taxpayer.”

The letter requests a meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss the implementation of the Inquiry’s recommendations and to consider direct actions for immediate improvements.

The signatories, ranging from medical professionals, patients, and donor families to Members of Parliament and celebrities, represent a broad cross-section of the UK’s population. They stand together in their commitment to improving health outcomes and equity of access to treatment across the UK.

“We believe that with coordinated effort and strong leadership, significant progress can be made,” Sarah Olney MP added. “These steps will not only improve the lives of those urgently in need of transplant and transfusion treatments but also contribute to a more equitable and effective healthcare system for all.”

The APPG for Ethnicity Transplantation and Transfusion eagerly awaits the Prime Minister’s response and is ready to work alongside the government and other stakeholders to implement these crucial changes.

For further information and media enquiries, please contact the Group Secretariat: Yaser Martini on 07770672559 / appg@teammargot.com

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We, the undersigned are committed to improving health outcomes and equity of access to treatment in the UK and are writing in unity for your support and to draw attention to crucial issues in the field of blood, organ and stem cell treatments, which concern in particular, the nation’s mixed heritage and ethnic minority communities that represent 1 in 5 UK adults and 1 in 3 school children.

The recently published report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Ethnicity Transplantation and Transfusion entitled “Where are our nation’s donors?” (attached) provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and inequities faced by patients from these communities in accessing life-saving treatments.

We believe that the recommendations of the inquiry report, which are within the remit of your Government, will lead to significant improvements in health benefits, and save many lives and, improve efficiencies in our healthcare system and reduce its financial cost to the taxpayer. The three headline recommendations are:

•Improved governance and accountability via a review of transplant pathways;

•Improved data, reporting and transparency to identify health disparities;

•Improved education, awareness and activity to highlight the importance of donation;

We understand the nature of the complexities and challenges in addressing these issues but believe that with coordinated effort and strong leadership, significant progress can be made. These steps will not only improve the lives of those urgently in need of transplant and transfusion treatments, but will also contribute to a more equitable and effective healthcare system.

On behalf of the undersigned and as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Ethnicity Transplantation and Transfusion, I request a meeting with you, at your earliest convenience, to discuss this critical healthcare matter of national importance and to consider the direct actions and steps that can be taken to save and improve many more lives across our nation, especially those from the ethnic minority and mixed heritage communities.

We eagerly await your response.

Yours sincerely,

Sarah Olney
Member of Parliament for Richmond Park
Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Ethnicity Transplantation and Transfusion

Co-signed by: