Independent Assessor Bulletin
Issue 31
Welcome to a new look Olympic sized issue of the Independent Assessor
(IA) bulletin! This month’s issue contains news on our plans over the
Olympic period, some important policy information and the very latest news
on the Arms Length Body review.
Stats and Facts
Between 1 April 2012 and 20 July 2012, 342 IA reports have been approved by the
HTA. This compares to 330 in the same period last year.
Between 1 April 2012 and 20 July 2012, 46 cases were referred to a panel of HTA
members for decision. This compares to 33 in the same period last year.
Olympics and contingency plans
As you will undoubtedly be aware the Olympics start in London today. Our primary
aim throughout the Olympic and Paralympic games is to ensure that the HTA
continues to deliver its business efficiently and effectively. We do not envisage any
change in the process of reviewing and making decisions on transplant cases (within
our timeframe of 5 working days). We are aiming for minimum disruption, but please
do bear with us during this period particularly around 9am when our journey to the
office may be delayed.
Withdrawal of the six month limit for approvals policy
As you are aware, the HTA is undergoing a significant period of change as our
processes and procedures are revised as part of the new living organ donation
framework.
Previous guidance has been that once HTA approval has been provided, the
transplant must take place within six months of the decision; otherwise a repeat IA
interview would need to be undertaken. This requirement is now withdrawn.
There is now no time limit on the validity of an approval. However, if the
circumstances of the donor and/or recipient change during the time between
approval being granted and the transplant going ahead, Living Donor Coordinators
should contact the HTA for advice on whether a further independent assessment
should be undertaken.
This change in policy will be clearly documented in the revised Guidance for
transplant teams and IAs that will soon be issued.
Please be assured that further communications on all aspects of this project,
including changes to the IT system, will be shared with you all soon.
Enhanced IA training
We have recently worked with units to identify one IA per unit to undertake enhanced
training, as indicated in the letter to all units on 4 May. The training took place
recently, meaning that only these IAs can undertake interviews with donors and
recipients in directed altruistic cases (where there is no genetic or pre-existing
emotional relationship between donor and recipient). We are reviewing the feedback
received from the day and will consider how this could be offered as training in the
future.
Arms length body review – Consultation
The Department of Health has now launched its consultation on the future of the
HTA. The options outlined are as follows:

all functions should transfer to the CQC except the HFEA functions relating to
research that would pass to the Health Research Authority; and the HFEA
and HTA be abolished

all functions should transfer, as set out above, but a limited number of
functions would transfer to organisations other than the CQC

the HFEA and HTA should retain their functions but deliver further savings.
The HTA will be responding to this Consultation. We would encourage units, or
individuals, to submit your responses and you can do so here. All responses must
be received by the Department of Health by the deadline of 28 September 2012.
HTA e-newsletter
Keep up-to-date with all our latest news in the HTA e-newsletterb- you can sign up to
receive this here if you have not already done so. For previous issues of the IA
bulletin, please click here.
I hope you find this bulletin useful and informative. If you have any suggestions for
areas you would like to see included in future editions, please contact me
[email protected]