This Thursday 8th of Seprtember, join Scotty and and Kennedy on breakfast from 8am as they speak to Dawn Evans, specialist organ nurse, about organ donation week and the amazing work being done at Wythenshaw hospital!
Every day across the UK, around three people who could have benefited from a transplant die because there aren’t enough organ donors. Approximately half a million people* who die each year across the UK die in circumstances where their organs could be donated hence the reason for the campaign. NHS Blood and Transplant figures show that only 47% of families agree to organ donation if they are unaware of their relative’s decision to be a donor. Yet almost 90% of families give their consent (or authorisation in Scotland) when the decision to be an organ donor is known.
Anthony Clarkson, Assistant Director for Organ Donation and Nursing at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Too many families faced with the possibility of donating a relative’s organs, find themselves having to make a decision without the comfort of knowing exactly what their relative would have wanted. This makes what is already an emotional and difficult time even harder. It is vital you tell your family about your organ donation decision: that knowledge will make it so much easier for them to support what you want.
There is a particular need to encourage more black and Asian families to talk about organ donation. In 2015/16, only 5% of all deceased donors came from a BAME background and families from these communities are more likely to refuse consent than white families. This is a particular concern, as people from black and Asian communities have a higher incidence of conditions such as diabetes and certain forms of hepatitis, making them more likely to need a transplant.
If you are interested in becoming an Organ Donor but you are unsure and want to be better informed or, if you have a relative who is an Organ Donor and want to understand more about how Donors save lives, then make sure you listen in!
