​Local people urged to talk about organ donation and help save lives

City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust is asking people to support Organ Donation Week, September 3 to 9, as new figures show the number of lives saved by local donors.

The national NHS campaign is urging people to talk to their families about organ donation to increase the number of people whose lives can be saved or transformed by an organ transplant.

Nationally, three people die every day in need of an organ, and there are around 35 in Sunderland on the transplant waiting list.

Families will always be approached about donation if a loved one can donate their organs. Knowing what their loved one wanted helps families support their decision at a difficult time.

The latest figures from NHS Blood and Transplant show that 44 people have donated their organs at City Hospitals Sunderland over the last 10 years, enabling 111 transplants.

Only around 1% of people die in circumstances where they can donate so every donor is incredibly precious. People who die in circumstances where donation is possible are usually patients who have been taken to hospitals specialising trauma and brain injuries.

City Hospitals Sunderland is supporting the campaign by encouraging staff and patients to be more open about their wishes around organ donation and to have that important conversation with family and loved ones. The trust is also lighting its buildings up pink, alongside Sunderland landmarks like Keel Square, Northern Spire Bridge, Seaburn Lighthouse and Penshaw Monument.

Michelle Pearson, Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation at City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Words save lives. It’s so important to have this discussion with your family and loved ones so they are aware of your wishes and also because of the number of lives that it could potentially save.

“Only one third of adults in England have told their partner or their family that they want to donate, despite 8 out of 10 saying that they would be willing to donate or would consider it. Sadly many opportunities are lost every year because families don’t know if their loved one wanted to be a donor or not and struggle to make a decision at such a raw and emotional time. It’s so important to make sure you know what your loved ones want, or to sign up to the organ donation register.”

Anthony Clarkson, Interim Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant said: “We are very grateful to City Hospitals Sunderland for its support during Organ Donation Week.

“Words save lives. Please, tell your family you want to save lives through organ donation, because it could be the difference between life and death for someone else.”

Millions of people are already on the NHS Organ Donor Register, join them today and tell your family you want to save lives. Register at www.organdonation.nhs.uk.

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