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Statement from Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) team

9 June 2011

"Without commenting on a particular case we are able to say the following about patients waiting for bone marrow transplants.

"Sometimes, these patients will develop infections which require Granulocyte infusions (white blood cell infusions which boost the immune system), to reduce the risk of them becoming increasingly unwell or the infection worsening, as they go through the transplant procedure.

"Granulocyte donors do not come from the general blood donor pool, so on average between two and four suitable donors, matched on blood type and CMV negative, are sought. These are often friends and family of the patient.

"This is standard practice. The hospital has not made any specific call for donors for any of our patients at present."

NHS Blood & Transplant are always seeking people to give blood, visit http://www.blood.co.uk/giving-blood/.

Dr Paul Veys, Director of BMT, Great Ormond Street Hospital

Contact information:

For further information please contact Hayley Dodman, Great Ormond Street Hospital press office on 0207 239 3126 or email dodmah@gosh.nhs.uk

For genuine and urgent out of hours call speak to switchboard on 020 7405 9200

Notes to editors

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