‘Leave your family certain’: Team UHDB calls on communities to share their wishes for Organ Donation Week
Clinicians and colleagues at UHDB are calling on our communities to talk to their families about organ donation and leave them certain about their wishes this Organ Donation Week (20 – 26 September).
The law around organ donation changed in England in May 2020, known as Max and Kiera’s Law, and all adults are now considered as having agreed to donate their organs when they die, unless they record a decision not to donate, are in one of the excluded groups or have told their family they do not wish to be a donor.
Around 1.1 million people in the Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Lichfield and Tamworth areas are already on the NHS Organ Donor Register. However, people need to tell their family to help ensure their family supports their decision, if they are approached about organ donation by a specialist nurse in hospital.
Relatives will still always be consulted before organ donation goes ahead and each year, opportunities for transplants are missed because families aren't sure what to do.
Dr Magnus Harrison, Executive Medical Director and Deputy CEO at UHDB, said it is vitally important to have these conversations with your friends and family:
“I don’t think we talk in any way enough in hospital or at home about organ donation, and that can potentially leave families and loved ones with some really difficult conversations to have.
“It’s always easier if families have discussed their wishes regarding organ donation, but also for the staff as well.
“I think it’s taboo for a number of reasons, partly because the end of life discussion is a tricky one to have. In families, it’s really hard talking about death with our loved ones. But my family know what my wishes are, I’ve discussed them extensively and they know exactly what I would like to happen in the event of my death.”
In Derbyshire and Staffordshire alone, nearly 200 patients are currently waiting for a viable organ transplant to help change or save their lives. Last year, 156 people received a transplant in these regions, but almost 500 people across the UK died while waiting a life-saving organ.
Clinical Lead for Organ Donation at Royal Derby Hospital, Dr Greg Fletcher, says that this shows there is still more that can be done to help save more lives:
“The introduction of Max and Kiera’s Law was a really positive step in the right direction, and it has helped to facilitate more vital transplants to save or change someone’s life.
“However, we need more people in Derbyshire and Staffordshire to talk about organ donation to increase the number of lifesaving transplants.
“Your loved ones will still always be consulted before organ donation goes ahead. Please don’t wait. Speak to your family about organ donation and let them know your decision today.”
This week, UHDB is supporting the organ donation campaign by sharing stories from staff regarding their wishes, highlighting some of the key roles our clinicians play in supporting those who have received organ transplants, as well as undertaking a variety of pink-themed promotions to raise awareness of this vitally important campaign.
Derby City Council’s Street Pride Team has also created a striking design outside Royal Derby Hospital to encourage more people to ‘say yes to organ donation’ (p[ictured).
Partners across our local communities, including Derby Cathedral and Chatsworth House, are also supporting Organ Donation Week by lighting up buildings pink to encourage more people to discuss their wishes with their loved ones.
Dr Ian Poxon, Clinical Lead for Organ Donation at Queen’s Hospital Burton, urged people of all ethnicities and backgrounds to have these important conversations:
“These conversations are especially important for local residents from Black and Asian backgrounds. People from these communities are more likely to need a transplant, however, often wait longer as the best chance of a match will often come from someone of the same ethnicity.”
UHDB is now asking people across the area to tell their families that they want to donate after their death to ensure more lives are saved.
To find out more and register your decision, visit the NHS Organ Donor Register and share your decision with your family. Users of the NHS app, can also use this to record, check or amend their details or decision.
Visit the NHS Organ Donor Register website (opens in new window) >