Organ donor chats are urged
FAMILIES in Leicestershire are being urged to talk after new figures show 46 people from the area have died waiting for a transplant in the last five years.
Tragically, despite the fact more and more people are supporting donating their loved one’s organs, there is still an urgent need for more people to support donation.
NHS Blood and Transplant is now urging more people in Leicestershire to tell their families that they want to save lives through organ donation.
Last year, 69 people in Leicestershire had their lives saved by a transplant. If more people agreed to donate, more lives would be saved in Leicestershire and around the country.
Although the number of donors is increasing, and the waiting lists are reducing, right now there are around 6,000 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant across the UK.
During Organ Donation Week, the NHS is urging families to talk about donation with the message – ‘Words Save Lives’. Councils and organisations around the country are lighting prominent buildings pink, which is the colour of the modern donor card, in support of the country’s organ donation campaign.
Anthony Clarkson, Interim Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “It’s tragic that so many people from Leicestershire have died waiting for a transplant – what is shocking is that many of those lives could have been saved, had more families agreed
to donate organs.
“People are dying every day because some families are not talking about donation.
“We need more families in Leicestershire to say yes to organ donation, so that more lives can be saved.”
He added: “Please, let your family know your decision and ask them if they want to be donors. Don’t leave your family guessing what you would have wanted to happen.
“We know that many families feel enormous pride and comfort at knowing that their relative went on to save lives through the gift of organ donation.”
Millions of people are already on the NHS Organ Donor Register, join them today and tell your family you want to save lives. Register at www.organdonation.nhs.uk