NHS Blood and Transplant is an executive non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom's Department of Health and Social Care. It was established on 1 October 2005 to take over the responsibilities of two separate NHS agencies: UK Transplant (now renamed Organ Donation and Transplantation), founded by Dr. Geoffrey Tovey in 1972, and the National Blood Service (now renamed Blood Donation). Its remit is to provide a reliable, efficient supply of blood, organs and associated services to the NHS. Since NHSBT was established, the organisation has maintained or improved the quality of the services delivered to patients, stabilised the rising cost of blood, and centralised a number of corporate services. Overview It has the responsibility for optimising the supply of blood, organs and tissues and raising the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of blood and transplant services. Its roles are stated to include: encouraging people to donate organs, blood and tissues optimising the safety and supply of blood, organs and tissues (within the NHS) helping to raise the quality, effectiveness and clinical outcomes of NHS blood and transplant services providing expert advice to other NHS organisations, the Department of Health, Ministers and devolved administrations providing appropriate advice and support to health services in other countries commissioning and conducting research and development actively engaging in implementing relevant EU statutory frameworks and guidance being involved in broader international developments In 2009/10 its strategic objectives were focused on the efficient provision of a safe and sustainable supply of blood and its components, the identification and referral of more organ donors and the establishment of NHSBT as an effective and responsive organisation, focused on the needs of donors and patients. The year saw a record high in organ donation and transplantation together with an increase in the number of people signing up to donate blood. Information technology The Core System Modernisation Programme which was meant to modernise the organisation’s information technogy systems was abandoned in 2018 with costs of £26 million written off. Operations Blood Donation The National Blood Service, now renamed NHS Blood Donation, is the organisation for England which collects blood and other tissues, tests, processes, and supplies all the hospitals in England. Other official blood services in the United Kingdom include the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and the Welsh Blood Service. The National Blood Service was formed in 1946 as the National Blood Transfusion Service of