Growing support for organ donations

Report into figures for Leicestershire

THERE were 129 life-saving and transforming kidney transplants carried out at Leicester’s Hospitals last year.

NHS Blood and Transplant and Leicester’s Hospitals have released the figures to mark the publication of NHS Blood and Transplant’s annual Organ Donation and Transplantation Activity Report.

The report reveals there is growing support for organ donation around the country. Nationally, there was a record number of organ donors, with 1,600 people saving lives through deceased organ donation over the last year.

However, the report also shows that across the UK, fewer people died in circumstances where they were able to donate their organs – 225 fewer than in 2017/18.

Dr Jane Gill, consultant neonatologist and co-clinical lead for organ donation at Leicester’s Hospitals, said: “It is absolutely amazing that 129 people had their lives transformed by receiving a kidney transplant in Leicester last year.

“In the same year, 29 families consented to their loved ones becoming organ donors within Leicester’s Hospitals. Fourteen of these patients became donors and this resulted in 46 lifesaving transplants.

“This is only made possible through the generosity of others wanting to give the gift of life and in Leicester we want to continue to promote what a difference considering organ donation at the end of your life can make to others.

“Please tell your family that you want to support donation. Letting your family know that you want to save lives will make it much easier if there comes a time when organ donation is a possibility.”

From spring 2020, the law on organ and tissue donation in England is changing. All adults in England will be considered as having agreed to donate their own organs when they die unless they record a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups.

Anthony Clarkson, director of Organ Donation and Transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, spoke of his gratitude to colleagues and donors for their support.

“Organ donation is the only hope for many desperately ill people”, he said.

“We know many families feel a sense of pride and comfort from their decision to let their relative’s final act to be saving lives through organ donation. No lifesaving transplant would be possible without the generosity of every donor and their families, who give their support and say yes to organ donation.

“With the law around organ donation changing in England from next spring, we urge everyone to find out about the choices available to them, make their decision and share it with their family.”

Find out more and register your decision by visiting the NHS Organ Donor Register’s website at https:// www.organdonation.nhs.uk.

Fourteen of these patients became donors and this resulted in 46 life-saving transplants