Policy Directive Cord Blood - Private Cord Blood Banking Document Number PD2005_394 Publication date 27-Jan-2005 Functional Sub group Clinical/ Patient Services - Human Tissue Clinical/ Patient Services - Maternity Summary Policy on use of umbilical cord blood. Author Branch Office of the Chief Health Officer Branch contact Office of the Chief Health Officer Ministry of Health, NSW 73 Miller Street North Sydney NSW 2060 Locked Mail Bag 961 North Sydney NSW 2059 Telephone (02) 9391 9000 Fax (02) 9391 9101 http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/ Applies to Area Health Services/Chief Executive Governed Statutory Health Corporation, Board Governed Statutory Health Corporations, Affiliated Health Organisations, Ministry of Health, Public Health Units, Public Hospitals Distributed to Public Health System, Health Professional Associations and Related Organisations, Ministry of Health, Public Health Units, Public Hospitals Review date 30-Sep-2015 Policy Manual Not applicable File No. 04/3429 Previous reference 2004/72 Issue date 22-Oct-2004 Status Active Director-General This Policy Directive may be varied, withdrawn or replaced at any time. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for NSW Health and is a condition of subsidy for public health organisations.
Policy Directive Cord Blood - Private Cord Blood Banking Document Number PD2005_394 Publication date 27-Jan-2005 Functional Sub group Clinical/ Patient Services - Human Tissue Clinical/ Patient Services - Maternity Summary Policy on use of umbilical cord blood. Author Branch Centre for Population Health Branch contact Ministry of Health, NSW 73 Miller Street North Sydney NSW 2060 Locked Mail Bag 961 North Sydney NSW 2059 Telephone (02) 9391 9000 Fax (02) 9391 9101 http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/ Applies to Area Health Services/Chief Executive Governed Statutory Health Corporation, Board Governed Statutory Health Corporations, Affiliated Health Organisations, Ministry of Health, Public Health Units, Public Hospitals Distributed to Public Health System, Health Professional Associations and Related Organisations, Ministry of Health, Public Health Units, Public Hospitals Review date 27-Jan-2010 Policy Manual Not applicable File No. 04/3429 Previous reference 2004/72 Issue date 22-Oct-2004 Status Active Director-General This Policy Directive may be varied, withdrawn or replaced at any time. Compliance with this directive is mandatory for NSW Health and is a condition of subsidy for public health organisations.
CIRCULAR File No 04/3429 Circular No 2004/72 Issued 22 October 2004 Contact Gillian Fuller (02) 9391 9597 Legal Branch Private Cord Blood Banking This Circular contains NSW Health s policy on cord blood collection (in public hospitals) by private blood banks is mandatory policy. It applies to all public health organisations. This policy confirms the interim policy which was issued to Area Health Service Chief Executive Officers in November 2003. Robyn Kruk Director-General Distributed in accordance with circular list(s): A 72 B 11 C 69 D E 73 Miller Street North Sydney NSW 2060 F G 8 H I J 52 Locked Mail Bag 961 North Sydney NSW 2059 K L M N P Telephone (02) 9391 9000 Facsimile (02) 9391 9101 In accordance with the provisions incorporated in the Accounts and Audit Determination, the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officers and their equivalents, within a public health organisation, shall be held responsible for ensuring the observance of Departmental policy (including circulars and procedure manuals) as issued by the Minister and the Director-General of the Department of Health.
Cord Blood is collected from the umbilical cord vein after the delivery of a baby and the umbilical cord cut. The cord blood is rich in blood stem cells, normally found in the bone marow. At present, its most common use is as an alternative source of stem cells for bone marrow transplant. Currently, in NSW, cord blood can be donated in three ways. 1. As a non-directed public donation to the non profit public Sydney Cord Blood Bank for use by anyone needing a transplant; 2. As a directed donation for a family member with a proven sickness needing a stem cell transplant; and 3. As an autologous private donation for future personal use. This service is only offered by private cord blood banks. Private Cord Blood Banking A number of private cord blood banks have been established in NSW. These banks provide a service whereby mothers can have their newborn baby s cord blood removed and stored indefinitely for the purpose of private future use by the baby or a sibling. Private banks charge an initial collection fee and an annual storage fee. NSW Policy for Private Cord Blood Banking in Public Health Organisations 1. Public and private patients in public hospitals may make their own private arrangements for the collection of cord blood, if they wish to utilise a private cord blood bank. 2. The mother can make a private arrangement for the collection, storage and transfer of cord blood, with a collector from the private cord bank, a private obstetrician accredited to the hospital or another suitably qualified person. 3. No employee of the public health organisation may be involved in the collection of cord blood for private blood banks. 4. Facilities of public health organisations are not to be used for the collection, storage or transplantation of cord blood for private blood banks. 5. It is a matter for individual medical practitioners, exercising their rights of private practice, as to whether they make arrangements with a private cord blood bank for the collection of cord blood at the request of their patients. 6. All visitors to the delivery suite involved in cord blood collection must have satisfied the PHO s requirements for identification and must be clearly identifiable and make their presence known to hospital staff. 7. Cord blood collections taking place must be taken ex-utero, as opposed to in-utero. 8. As a condition of permitting a private blood bank to undertake the collection of cord blood in a public health organisation s premises, a mother is required to sign a release form (provided as Attachment A). 2
9. This form confirms that she understands that the cord blood service is not provided by the public health organisations/its employees, servants and agents and that the hospital is not responsible for the collection, transport and storage of the cord blood. 10. The collection of cord blood must not interfere with the delivery of the baby or placenta or any emergency procedure required. The doctor/midwife conducting the delivery will indicate if the ex-utero cord blood collection can proceed. Public Cord Blood banking People in NSW may donate cord blood to the Sydney Cord Blood Bank. NSW Health supports the activities of the Sydney Cord Blood Bank, which collects and stores cord blood for the use of all patients, free of charge, on the basis of need. The Sydney Cord Blood Bank arranges for cord blood to be collected by its own staff, who are trained and accredited by the SCBB. Donations can only be collected at certain Sydney Hospitals. Further information about the Sydney Cord Blood Bank and the medical evidence regarding autologous cord blood use can be obtained from http://www.sch.edu.au/departments/acbb/ or The Sydney Cord Blood Bank Sydney Children's Hospital High Street Randwick NSW 2031 Australia Tel: 2+9382-0371 Fax: 2+9382-0372 3
ATTACHMENT A Request for Private Cord Blood Banking [to be completed on admission of patient] Please read this document carefully I,..of NAME OF PATIENT ADDRESS OF PATIENT have made arrangements with... NAME OF PRIVATE CORD BLOOD BANK a private cord blood banking organisation, for the collection and storage of cord blood following the birth of my child. As part of this arrangement,... NAME OF PERSON WHO WILL COLLECT THE BLOOD (i.e.: the representative from the private cord bank or private obstetrician} will attend the birth of my child to collect the cord blood. I understand that the cord blood banking service is provided by... NAME OF PRIVATE CORD BLOOD BANK and is not provided, approved or endorsed by the Hospital and that the Hospital and its staff have no responsibility for and no involvement with the private cord blood bank. I understand and accept that it is a condition of permitting my arrangement with the cord blood banking organisation for collection and storage of the cord blood to occur on the hospital premises that the Hospital and its employees are absolved from all liability howsoever arising including any breach of contract, breach of duty and or negligent act or omission on the part of the Hospital and its employees arising from loss, injury or damage arising directly or indirectly in connection with the collection, handling, transportation or storage of the cord blood. I understand that the attending medical practitioner or midwife, as the case may be, will ultimately determine whether the collection of the cord blood can proceed having regard to the medical condition of myself and my child... Signature of Patient.. Name of Patient Date.. Signature of Witness.. Name of Witness.. Date 4
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