New campaign to enlist organ donors

Monklands residents are being encouraged to join the NHS organ donor register with the launch of a new registration campaign.

The“we need everybody”campaign, including a television advert, shows people of all ages, shapes, sizes and ethnicity baring almost all to highlight that anyone can be a donor.

It comes as latest figures highlight there are 540 people in Scotland waiting on life-saving transplants, and that every day in the UK, someone dies waiting on a transplant.

Just over one third of residents in the NHS Lanarkshire area are currently on the organ donor register, and fewer than one per cent of deaths in Scotland occur when the person is able to donate their organs, making it vital that more people register.

Dr Harpreet Kohli, chair of the local health board’s organ donation committee, said:“It offers the opportunity to give the gift of life. Organ donation not only helps transform an individual’s life, but also that of all their family and friends who have been supporting their loved one as they wait for a transplant.

“By signing up to the register you can ensure that you have the opportunity to make a huge difference to the lives of so many people.

“Lanarkshire’s commitment to increasing organ donation is underlined by our hosting of the British Transplant Games next year.”

Alex Neil, the Airdrie & Shotts MSP, echoed the call to sign up, telling the Advertiser:“This is an important campaign, about driving home the fact that everybody has it in them to save a life – and one which will help save lives here and across Scotland.

“I would encourage constituents to spare the two minutes that it takes to sign up.“The organ donor register is a vital resource for our NHS.”

People can sign up to the organ donor register at weneedeverybody.org.