15.01.14
Organ donation partnership calls for family to be informed
A new campaign is encouraging people on the organ donation register to tell their family and friends about their decision.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), the National Council for Palliative Care and the Dying Matters Coalition are encouraging more people to communicate their intentions clearly, to help ensure as many potential donors as possible can donate.
Research carried out for NHSBT showed that only 31% of families would agree to go ahead with an organ donation if they were unaware of their relative’s decision to donate.
Eve Richardson, chief executive of the National Council for Palliative Care and the Dying Matters Coalition said: “Although progress is being made, too many of us are still shunning or leaving too late the important conversations that can help avoid heartbreak and regret at the end of life and also save other lives.
“That’s why we are delighted to be working in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant to help encourage and support people across the UK to make their wishes about organ donation known and to stimulate public discussion on such an important issue.”
Sally Johnson, director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with the National Council for Palliative Care and its Dying Matters Coalition because their focus on end of life care fits well with us wanting to raise understanding of the need for people to tell their loved ones about their organ donation decision.
“People only die once and both of our organisations want people’s decisions about what should happen in the event of their death to be followed but this is more difficult if you don’t make your wishes known and leave those around you to guess.
“Every potential organ donor can save or transform up to nine lives and we know this legacy can provide comfort and be a source of pride for their family.
“Please tell those closest to you about your organ donation decision, and record it by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register.”
You can join the register here.
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