Campaigners urge potential organ donors to inform their family

People who want to donate their organs when they die, are being urged to inform their families, so it is easier for the transplant to go ahead.

NHS Blood and Transplant has joined forces with the National Council for Palliative Care and the Dying Matters Coalition as part of a new partnership to encourage more people to tell their families and friends whether they want to be an organ donor.

Research carried out in England for NHS Blood and Transplant found only 31 per cent of families said they would agree to donation going ahead if they are unaware of the person’s decision to donate.

Fewer than 5,000 people each year die in circumstances where they can donate their organs, so it is important that every potential donor who wants to donate lets their family know what they want, according to the partnership.

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, added: “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.”

As part of a three year partnership between the National Council for Palliative Care and NHS Blood and Transplant, this call to action to discuss organ donation will be widely promoted to members of the 30,000 strong Dying Matters coalition, which has members from across the voluntary, public and commercial sectors.

Dying Matters and NHS Blood and Transplant have recently produced a joint leaflet urging people to make their organ donation decision known.

To find out more about why it is so important to tell your loved ones about your organ donation decision and to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk/dm/ or call 0300 123 23 23.