Our commitment to you
We value your support and our relationships. We also value the chance to right anything you feel we may have done wrong. We won’t discriminate against you in the future because you’ve made a complaint. Instead, we’ll do our utmost to discuss and resolve the issue.
We value your feedback
The views of our supporters and the wider public are important to us. We take feedback very seriously.
We hope you’ll be fully satisfied with our activities. But if you have a complaint about our fundraising we want to hear from you. We’ll address your complaint and respond to it as quickly as possible.
Anthony Nolan fundraising complaints policy
We are registered with the Fundraising Regulator and are committed to the highest standards. We follow the regulator's Code of Fundraising Practice as well as the Institute of Fundraising’s (IoF) Codes of Fundraising Practice.
We have always upheld high standards of fundraising and display the Fundraising Regulator's logo on our website and literature as testament to our ongoing commitment.
Our success as a charity lies with our supporters. We aim to provide them with the best service possible. This includes an efficient system that deals with complaints immediately.
Anthony Nolan Operations, Cord Blood Programme and Histocompatibility Laboratory Complaints Policy
1. Purpose
We are committed to providing the highest quality of services and care to our users, patients and donors, and we value your support and our relationships. We also value the chance to put right anything you feel we may have done wrong.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all service users, patients, and donors who wish to make a complaint regarding any aspect of our services.
3. How to Make a Complaint
If you have a complaint regarding any aspect of our services, please email our complaints team at complaints@anthonynolan.org
4. Information Required
If you contact us with a complaint, please tell us:
- The department which you feel is the source of your complaint (i.e. Donor & Transplantation Services, Patient Services, Laboratory Operations, Cell & Gene Therapy Services (this includes the Cord Blood Programme), Data and Analytics, Engagement (Communications, Marketing and Register Development), Fundraising, Finance and Resources, Technology, Research, Chief Executive Office, Strategy)
- What happened
- When it happened
- Who was involved
- Whether it’s an original complaint or a follow-up to a reply with which you were not satisfied
- What action you’d like us to take
- Your full postal address, telephone number, and email address (if you have one)
5. Complaint Handling Process
Acknowledgment: We will acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 3 working days.
Assessment: We will assess the complaint and determine the appropriate course of action.
Investigation: A thorough investigation will be conducted and this may involve contacting you for further information. After 14 working days, we will give you an update if the investigation is still ongoing.
Resolution: We will aim to resolve the complaint within 30 working days. If more time is needed, we will keep you informed of the progress and the expected resolution date.
Response: You will receive a response through your preferred mean of communication, detailing the outcome of the investigation and any actions we have taken to resolve the issue.
6. Escalation
If you are not satisfied with the resolution of your complaint, you can request a review by a senior staff member.
7. Confidentiality
All complaints will be handled confidentially and in line with our privacy policy. Information about the complaint will only be shared with those who need to be involved in the investigation.
8. Contact Information
For any inquiries about this policy or to make a complaint, please contact us at:
Can babies be cloned using cord blood?
No. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (2008) prohibits any attempt to create a child by reproductive cloning.
Why don’t you collect cord blood at more hospitals?
We chose the five hospitals in Manchester, London and Leicester because they have high birth rates, and are in ethnically diverse areas. At these five sites we are able to collect enough high quality cord blood to maintain a cord blood bank size that can meet the needs of patients now and in the future.
What’s the difference between private and public cord blood banking?
We run our cord blood bank as a public bank to help anyone around the world who needs a stem cell transplant. It doesn’t cost anything to donate cord blood to our programme.
Commercial cord blood banks charge to collect and store babies’ cord blood for private family use.
When would you use cord blood for research?
We use cord blood in ethically approved research if it doesn’t contain enough stem cells to bank for a potential transplant recipient, or where we are partnering with an external researcher carrying out research into new lifesaving therapies.
How long do you store cord blood for?
We store it until someone needs it for a transplant (or for research, if the blood doesn’t have enough stem cells to use for a transplant). We can store cord blood indefinitely, frozen in cryogenic tanks at temperatures of around -190°C.
If I sign up, will you definitely collect and store my baby's cord blood?
We can’t guarantee it. We may not collect/store your cord blood because:
- your temperature has risen and you have an infection
- your membranes rupture prematurely
- there isn’t enough blood in your placenta and cord to collect
- there’s a mechanical failure with the equipment used
- other medical issues
- an accredited person may not be available to conduct the collection. For example, if lots of women who have signed up to donate give birth around the same time. Cord blood needs to be collected immediately to be effective.