Organ Donation Needs a Boost

The people of North Staffordshire are being urged to help save the lives of others in the area through organ donation.  

While a large number of people in North Staffordshire are already signed up on the organ donor register, the area still lags behind most of the country.  

Families are being encouraged to discuss donation, as it is often a person's loved ones who have to make that difficult decision in the future.  

Julie Pascoe, donor co-ordinator at University Hospital, said:

"We are delighted when people choose to join the organ donation list, which could help to save lives after their death. If it is something you want to do, please put yourself on the organ donor register because otherwise your family will not know how you feel. Imagine if they were asked if you were willing to donate without knowing what you really wanted, they would find it extremely difficult to make that decision. If you put yourself on the register they will know what your wishes were and it will be much easier for them. Why wouldn't you want to give someone the gift of life?" 

Dr S Nagaiyan, Consultant in Intensive Care, said:

"Nationally there has been a 7.5% increase on the organ donors register, which is an increase of one million people, taking the nation up to 16.5 million. However, locally we are underachieving and we really don't know why this is. Nationally, when a family loses a loved one they give consent for their relative to donate organs in 63% of instances, but locally it is only 48%. If we can get more people to join the register, it will have a real impact on the number of lives we can save."  

To find out more information about donation and to see if it's something you want to do, contact 0300 123 23 23, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or text SAVE to 84118