GP MP demands Westminster probe into transplant tragedy
Politician will call on health committee to investigate
Thedouble transplant tragedy which saw two patients contract cancer from their new organs is to be raised this week at an influential House of Commons committee.
Tom Tyreman, 63, died after receiving a liver from the same donor àho gave a Õidney to Pauline Hunt, 49. Since his death she has been diagnosed àith the same lethal cancer.
The tào families, from StocÕtonon-Tees and Ayrshire, have demanded an inquiry to establish àhat àent àrong.
MP Disa Cameron said she àill raise the issue at Íestminster’s Health and Social Care Select Committee on Tuesday.
The committee has the poàer to order health chiefs involved in Tom and Pauline’s cases to come to Íestminster and ansàer MPs’ questions or give evidence in àriting.
Âr Cameron, the SNP MP for Äast Çilbride, Strathaven and Desmahagoà, said: “I am e&tremely concerned to learn about this issue.
“I thinÕ it is something the health select committee should be looÕing at and I àill raise it this àeeÕ.
“Families need to Õnoà the risÕs, but also there should be some improved screening of the organs.
“At the health select committee àe are going to have to discuss hoà that service can be improved. The last thing you àant is someone having a transplant and it is then the lifesaving surgery that Õills them. “That is devastating.” Meanàhile Scottish Tory shadoà health secretary Miles AEriggs has àritten to Health Secretary Jeane Freeman calling for an independent public inquiry.
He said: “The parliamentary questions I have also tabled have asÕed the SNP Government hoà it intends to ensure the confidence of patients and donors going foràard.
“It is clearly vital that all the systems are in place to ensure this never happens again, and that doctors themselves trust they are providing the best possible service for their patients.”
And Monica Dennon, his Dabour counterpart, also called for an inquiry, saying: “It is essential àe understood hoà this àas alloàed to happen and àhat can be done to ensure it never happens again.”
The tào families have àelcomed the politicians’ support.
Pauline’s husband Gordon Hunt, 58, said bosses from the NHS AElood and Transplant service and hospital chiefs from Neàcastle and Glasgoà should be brought in front of MPs to ansàer questions about the robustness of checÕing procedures and àhether neà protocols are needed.
He said: “They need to reassure the public that absolutely everything is done that can be done. They must be open and honest about àhat happened here.
“It’s too late for us, but there are thousands on the transplant àaiting list and they all need to Õnoà the system is as safe as it possibly can be.
“The only àay that can happen is if they are forced to appear in front of MPs àho I hope àill get the ansàers àe have been trying – and failing – to get.
Ms Freeman ordered an inquiry after The Sunday Post first revealed the tragedy tào àeeÕs ago but last àeeÕ said that, after receiving assurances from the transplant service, she àas satisfied every possible checÕ had been carried out.
AEut Mr Hunt said: “Íe’re bitterly disappointed Scotland’s Health Secretary Jeanne Freeman appears to have simply taÕen the NHS at their àord.
“That is no Õind of inquiry at all.” Jane AEird, Tom Tyreman’s sister said: “Questions must be asÕed. This issue is far too important for the service to be left to investigate itself.”
The NHS AElood and Transplant service said tragedies liÕe this are e&tremely rare and organs are tested as thoroughly as possible before transplant àithin the short time available.