Royal Free's Chord Blood Collection Program Launched

Anne Milton, health minister, launched the Royal Free's chord blood collection program. The program allows mothers to donate their umbilical cord and placenta after birth, which can then be used in life-saving transplants for people with blood cancer.

    Mai Buckley, director of midwifery and gynaecology at the Royal Free, said: "When a baby is born, its umbilical cord and placenta are usually thrown away as clinical waste. But this 'waste' could actually save someone's life. 

    "We know many mums would like the choice of donating cord blood and we're delighted that we can now give parents this option. We're only the eleventh NHS hospital in the country to offer this service. We hope that this initiative will save many lives and we offer our thanks to Anthony Nolan and the Sue Harris Bone Marrow Trust for making it possible."

    Anne Milton, public health minister, said: "This new cord blood collection centre will make a real difference for patients requiring life-saving transplants. I am glad we are able to share this common objective to increase cord blood collection, provide quicker treatment and reduce the time it takes to find a matching stem cell donor."