People in York urged to start a family conversation during Organ Donation Week

This Organ Donation Week (23 to 29 September) NHS Blood and Transplant and York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are celebrating 30 years since the NHS Organ Donor Register began giving the gift of organ donation.

In York, more than 49,000 people have already made the decision to donate their organs after death, and in the last six years the Trust has saved 122 lives through organ donation in the region that it serves.

And while this is good news, more people than ever before are in need of a life-saving transplant across the UK, with more than 7,600 people on the active waiting list, including 32 in York.

Although organ donation is now an opt-out decision, the final discussion and consent must take place with the next of kin, so it is crucial that people start an honest conversation now with their families.

York Hospital rheumatology registrar Kirsty Devine lost her husband Rob last year following neurosurgery. She said: “Rob was only 41-years-old when he died, and when you are young you think that these sorts of conversations can wait. But because I am a doctor, and because I wanted us to share our wishes, I encouraged him to have a frank discussion with me about what we would both want in the future. He said that he would be happy to donate any part of his body if it could help others.

“I am glad that we had the conversation because I had a clear idea of what his thoughts and wishes were. Our family was able to go ahead and start speaking to the organ donation nurse specialist. Knowing his wishes made that time a little easier, as it was a decision I didn’t have to think about or make. I already knew.

“I know that Rob helped seven people: two with sight-saving eye surgery, and five with organ transplants. I also know that some of the recipients were young people, and that knowledge has helped us through many a tough day.

“Even though losing Rob was devasting, it was as though there was a tiny bit of goodness coming out of the situation, and I felt a sense of purpose as I was honouring his wishes. Knowing his wishes made that time a little easier, as it was a decision I didn’t have to think about or make. I already knew.

“So, my message to people in York during Organ Donation Week is; don’t wait, because you never know what will happen in the future. Have the conversation now, before confirming your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register, and don’t put it off just because it’s difficult.”

The Trust’s Clinical Lead for Organ Donation, Dr Rob Ferguson, said: “The number of lives saved and transformed over the last 30 years has been a fantastic achievement for people here in York, and across the country. One organ donor can save up to nine lives but there are still more than 7,000 people waiting for a transplant and three people die every day whilst waiting on that list.

“Confirming your decision to donate on the NHS Organ Donor Register makes it clear to your family that you want to be an organ donor if you are ever in the situation of becoming a potential donor. This leaves them certain of your decision at what is a devastating and emotional time making the conversation and decision regarding donation much easier. 

“We need more people in York to confirm their decision on the register today, in order to save more lives now and in the future and encourage people to have the conversation around organ donation. It doesn’t just save lives it completely transforms that life too.”

The Trust has made a short, animated video which shares more about the thoughts and experiences of donor families and organ recipients. Watch the video at https://tinyurl.com/377aj3as

The NHS Organ Donor Register was set up to promote organ donation and allow people to record their decision to donate. It was the result of a five-year campaign by John Cox and his daughter Christine after their son and brother, Peter, died in 1989. He had asked for his organs to be used to help others.

Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Thanks to the support of York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust during Organ Donation Week, we can get the message across to more people that organ donation saves lives.

“Every day across the UK thousands of patients and their families are waiting for a life-saving call. But this can often only happen as a result of another family receiving very difficult news and supporting organ donation to help others.

“With more people, both adults and children, waiting for transplants, it’s more important than ever to confirm your organ donation decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. We urge everyone to take a moment this Organ Donation Week to register and confirm your decision.”

To find out more and confirm your decision, visit the NHS Organ Donor Register at www.organdonation.nhs.uk. Users of the NHS app, can also use this to record, check or amend their details or decision.