Runcorn & Widnes Weekly News

Number of registered organ donors rising

- BY JOHN MCDOUGALL john.mcdougall@trinitymir­ror.com @JMacD1988

MORE than 36,000 people across Halton are now registered to be organ donors. It has been revealed a total of 714 people in Cheshire are currently known to be alive thanks to organ transplant­s.

The figure is from NHS Blood And Transplant and there are now 36,789 people committed in Halton on the organ donor list.

It represents a rise of more than 8,000 people from 28,616 in the borough five years ago.

NHS Blood And Transplant is now urging more residents across Runcorn and Widnes to sign up and help even more people survive.

The public support for donation also means more people in Cheshire are receiving lifesaving and life enhancing transplant­s.

Last year 71 people in the county had transplant­s, compared to 55 five years ago.

Nationally, three people still die a day in need of a transplant and there are around 6,400 currently waiting.

An NHS Blood And Transplant spokeswoma­n said there is a ‘particular need’ for people from black and Asian background­s to register as those from the same ethnic background are more likely to be a match, but there are currently not enough black and Asian donors.

The organisati­on’s director of organ donation and transplant­ation Sally Johnson said: “More people than ever in Cheshire are committing to organ donation and that is saving more lives than ever.

“It’s amazing to picture all the people now alive today thanks to organ donation and think of all the families and children who have grown up thanks to donors.

“We’re seeing more people committing to donation and good results of our close work with hospitals.

“Our specialist nurses in organ donation are now almost always involved in discussion­s with families over organ donation.

“However there is still a long way to go. Around three people still die a day in need of a transplant.

“Every one of those people could be a mother or a father, a daughter or a son, who might be alive today.

“Families tell us donation is a source of pride that helps them in their grieving process. ●

“Please join the NHS Organ Donor Register. It only takes two minutes.”

Nationally the number of people on the NHS Organ Donor Register reached a record number of 23.6m people, meaning 36% of the UK’s population is on the list compared to 30% five years ago.

The UK-wide number of people alive thanks to transplant­s has reached 50,000.

There are now 404,405 people on the NHS Organ Donor Register in Cheshire, compared to 315,482 five years ago.

For more informatio­n visit www. organdonat­ion.nhs.uk

 ??  ?? Halton has 36,789 people who are registered as organ donors – a rise of more than 8,000 people from the 28,616 registered just five years ago
Halton has 36,789 people who are registered as organ donors – a rise of more than 8,000 people from the 28,616 registered just five years ago
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