Health watchdogs have named 25 UK hospitals which have bought potentially contaminated body parts allegedly stolen in the US.
Health watchdogs have named 25 UK hospitals which have bought potentially contaminated body parts allegedly stolen in the US.
This is as a result of a Freedom of Information Act request by the BBC.
This is as a result of a Freedom of Information Act request by the BBC.
In one case a bone from New York was used in a hip replacement operation at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, in Stanmore, Middlesex.
In one case a bone from New York was used in a hip replacement operation at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, in Stanmore, Middlesex.
It has also emerged that some patients have not been told about concerns surrounding implanted bones.
It has also emerged that some patients have not been told about concerns surrounding implanted bones.
In total 82 bone parts were used in so called allograft operations involving potentially dozens of UK patients.
In total 82 bone parts were used in so called allograft operations involving potentially dozens of UK patients.
The source of these bones are dead bodies in the US.
The source of these bones are dead bodies in the US.
There are concerns that some of them may have been stolen.
There are concerns that some of them may have been stolen.
US police investigation
US police investigation
Police in New York are investigating claims that the managers of a company called Biomedical Tissue Services took body parts without the consent of next of kin.
Police in New York are investigating claims that the managers of a company called Biomedical Tissue Services took body parts without the consent of next of kin.
They have also been accused of falsifying safety records which might otherwise have shown if the tissue or bone was infected with diseases such as HIV or hepatitis.
They have also been accused of falsifying safety records which might otherwise have shown if the tissue or bone was infected with diseases such as HIV or hepatitis.
The bones were eventually bought by a Swindon-based company which sold them on to hospitals in the UK.
The bones were eventually bought by a Swindon-based company which sold them on to hospitals in the UK.
Following the US investigation the company recalled all the unused bones in October 2005.
Following the US investigation the company recalled all the unused bones in October 2005.
In the US the regulatory authority the FDA has advised doctors to offer patients testing to check if they have contracted any diseases from possibly infected bones and tissue.
In the US the regulatory authority the FDA has advised doctors to offer patients testing to check if they have contracted any diseases from possibly infected bones and tissue.
In the UK the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority has concluded that the possibility of infection is low and has left it up to individual hospitals to decide whether to tell patients what has happened.
In the UK the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority has concluded that the possibility of infection is low and has left it up to individual hospitals to decide whether to tell patients what has happened.
Not informed
Not informed
The BBC has learnt that patients treated at the Royal London Hospital, Guys Hospital, and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital have not been told about the recall of bones or offered follow up tests.
The BBC has learnt that patients treated at the Royal London Hospital, Guys Hospital, and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital have not been told about the recall of bones or offered follow up tests.
Other hospitals such as Mayday University Hospital in South London and Airedale General Hospital in Keighley have been told about concerns surrounding the source of their bone implants.
Other hospitals such as Mayday University Hospital in South London and Airedale General Hospital in Keighley have been told about concerns surrounding the source of their bone implants.
Other hospitals returned bones they had bought before they were implanted.
Other hospitals returned bones they had bought before they were implanted.
The Northern General Hospital in Sheffield says it returned a whole arm bone costing over £700.
The Northern General Hospital in Sheffield says it returned a whole arm bone costing over £700.
The MHRA has sent out a letter to the NHS Trusts affected by the recall advising that follow up tests are unnecessary.
The MHRA has sent out a letter to the NHS Trusts affected by the recall advising that follow up tests are unnecessary.
A spokesman said it was up to doctors to decide whether to tell their patients about the bone recall.
A spokesman said it was up to doctors to decide whether to tell their patients about the bone recall.
The full list of hospitals, uncovered by BBC reporter Anna Lindsay, is:
The full list of hospitals, uncovered by BBC reporter Anna Lindsay, is:
Airedale General Hospital, Keighley
BUPA Hartswood Hospital, Brentwood
BUPA Hospital, Cardiff
Derriford Hospital, Plymouth
Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Doncaster
Guy's Hospital, London
Llandough Hospital, Llandough
Mayday University Hospital, Croydon
North London Nuffield Hospital, Enfield
North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary, Stoke-on-Trent
Northern General Hospital, Sheffield
Northwick Park and St Marks Hospital, Harrow
Parkside Hospital, Wimbledon
Royal London Hospital
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore
Scunthorpe General Hospital
Somerset Nuffield Hospital, Taunton
Southend Hospital
St George's Hospital, London
Taunton & Somerset Hospital, Taunton
Torbay Hospital
University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff
Warrington Hospital
Wellington Hospital, London
Wessex Nuffield Hospital, Eastleigh
Airedale General Hospital, Keighley
BUPA Hartswood Hospital, Brentwood
BUPA Hospital, Cardiff
Derriford Hospital, Plymouth
Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Doncaster
Guy's Hospital, London
Llandough Hospital, Llandough
Mayday University Hospital, Croydon
North London Nuffield Hospital, Enfield
North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary, Stoke-on-Trent
Northern General Hospital, Sheffield
Northwick Park and St Marks Hospital, Harrow
Parkside Hospital, Wimbledon
Royal London Hospital
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore
Scunthorpe General Hospital
Somerset Nuffield Hospital, Taunton
Southend Hospital
St George's Hospital, London
Taunton & Somerset Hospital, Taunton
Torbay Hospital
University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff
Warrington Hospital
Wellington Hospital, London
Wessex Nuffield Hospital, Eastleigh
The full Five Live Report investigation will be broadcast in October.
The full Five Live Report investigation will be broadcast in October.Have you been a patient at any of the named hospitals? Are you worried by the report? Send us your comments using the form below:
