Share this page
You can share a link to this page with your friends via your favourite social network. To protect your data from these third parties this feature is disabled by default, if you would like to use it please press the button below.
Media
News
New Cord Blood Unit opens at St George's
Date of issue: 20 October 2009
A new centre for the collection of vital cord blood donations was opened at St George's Hospital, London, on Monday (19th October) by Public Health Minister Gillian Merron.
Cord blood is the blood that remains in the placenta and umbilical cord after a baby is born. It is rich in stem cells and can be provided to help patients whose bone marrow is not working properly due to disease or medical treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Public Health Minister Gillian Merron with baby Leah Khan and mum Rebecca, a cord blood donor, on the maternity unit at St George's
Public Health Minister Gillian Merron said: "Cord blood offers enormous potential to treat and cure. The NHS bank offers cancer patients greater access to potential life-saving stem cell matches. Opening this new centre in an ethnically diverse area will help ensure we have enough cells of the right matches."
"Harnessing scientific advances offered by stem cells through this new NHS centre means that mums can save lives as they bring one into the world."
During her visit the Minister met trained cord blood collection staff, clinicians and donors in the maternity unit at St George's.
-Ends-
Notes to editors
For more information, please contact the Communications Unit on 020 8725 5151 or email communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk. Outside working hours, please page us by calling 0844 822 2888, leaving a short message and contact details for pager SG548.
