A LIFESAVING cord blood collection programme will be launched at the Royal Free Hospital by Health Minister Anne Milton next week.

On Wednesday, January 25, the hospital will launch the service, in partnership with blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan.

Through this new programme, mothers will be able to donate their umbilical cord and placenta after birth, which can be used in transplants for people with blood cancer.

Mai Buckley, director of midwifery and gynaecology at the Royal Free, said: “When a baby is born, its umbilical cord and placenta are usually thrown away as clinical waste. But this ‘waste’ could actually save someone’s life.

Rubi Pabani was one of the first to donate cord blood at the Royal Free, when she gave birth to her son Aydin on January 4.

The 33-year-old, of Oakleigh Park, said: “I knew it was something I wanted to do straight away – it doesn’t interfere in any way with the birth, it takes no time at all and yet it could save someone’s life.”

Jo Hemesley's life was saved because someone donated their cord blood.

The 41-year-old said: “I’m so grateful to the mother who gave me the opportunity to live again. And I’m grateful to Anthony Nolan and cord blood collection centres like the Royal Free, for collecting cord blood which will give so many people who can’t find an adult donor the chance of life.”

Guy Parkes, Head of Special Projects at Anthony Nolan, said: "It’s so important to give parents the option of donating their cord blood, rather than simply throwing away this potentially lifesaving resource.

“We chose the Royal Free because we already have excellent links with the hospital and it looks after mums giving birth from a wide range of ethnicities.”

The programme will be housed in the Sue Harris Cord Blood Collection Centre, funded by the Sue Harris Trust, at the Royal Free Hampstead. Cord Blood Collection services are also available at Barnet General Hospital.