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<p>Currently donated lungs are allocated to the designated cardiothoracic transplant
centres on a zonal basis. However, the Cardiothoracic Organs Advisory Group (CTAG)
have recently reviewed the allocation policy and have recommended that the size of
the allocation zones be adjusted to help ensure equity of access. NHS Blood and Transplant
(NHSBT) have therefore confirmed that for cardiothoracic organs, the zones will be
reviewed in August 2014 to coincide with changes in liver allocation zones and from
August 2015, heart and lung zones will be disaggregated and the zones reviewed separately.</p><p>
</p><p>CTAG have also recommended that NHSBT reviews the consequences of introducing
two levels of priority for listing for lung transplants - urgent and routine, and
suggest a national allocation scheme for urgent listed patients, and zonal allocation
for routine listed patients.</p><p> </p><p>Any proposed change would need to be validated
by NHSBT, who will review the criteria for urgent listing and the statistical modelling
of the potential impact of such a system. NHSBT will continue to work closely with
the Cystic Fibrosis Trust to improve outcomes for patients requiring lung transplants.</p><p>
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