Clinical Lead for Organ Donation
Role summary
- Provide clinical leadership within the hospital, to champion and promote the value of deceased organ donation.
- Maximise donation potential, by minimising missed opportunities in deceased donation and by implementing the recommendations of national guidelines across the whole hospital, focusing on those areas with greatest potential.
- Establish effective working relationships, with key stakeholders throughout the hospital.
The triumvirate of Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation (SNOD), Clinical Lead for Organ Donation (CLOD) and Organ Donation Committee Chair was the foundation stone upon which the UK growth in deceased organ donation was built. In April 2017 there were 240 CLODs in the UK, covering all acute Trusts and Boards, with the majority being senior intensive care doctors.
CLODs, working together with embedded SNODs and supported by organ donation committees, have championed donation in Emergency Departments and Intensive Care Units.
As senior doctors, CLODs ensured that SNODs were welcomed as members of the intensive care team, that donation was valued, that hospital donation policies were established, that referral of potential donors did occur, that collaborative requesting became the norm and that missed opportunities were investigated and tackled.
While the nature of these initiatives is that they are never ending, the role of CLOD, especially in the setting of traditional hospital hierarchical structures, remains foundational for the improvements that have occurred in UK deceased organ donation.
To achieve the Taking Organ Transplantation to 2020 vision of world class performance, it is essential we have a motivated and enthusiastic team of CLODs across the country, encouraging best practice and taking responsibility for their Trusts/Boards performance. Our success is attributable to the many CLODs who demonstrate these qualities.
In 2017 a review of the CLOD role was carried out by NHSBT and recommendations made which will give greater transparency and professionalism to the CLOD role and enable CLODs to meet the 2020 ambitions and continue to deliver a world class service.
Cost reimbursement
Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation (OTDT) reimburse Trusts/Boards for the PA costs for the approved time of CLODs and others in associated OTDT roles. These costs are calculated at the time of appointment by the completion of an Annex A form.
An updated Annex A form can be submitted at any time for CLODs and others in associated OTDT roles. PA costs will be adjusted following the receipt of the Annex A at the next quarter payment.
Please note that NHSBT do not pay consultant award schemes/ clinical excellence awards CEA (National or Local) as part of PA payment for OTDT Medical Team Roles.
Further information and related documents
CLOD Review Summary (PDF 353KB)
Strengthening the CLOD Role September 2017 (PDF 1.9MB)