The Isle of Wight NHS Trust and NHS Blood and Transplant service is calling on Islanders to register their donation decision and talk to their families about organ donation.
Organ Donation Week 2023 (18 to 24 September) is an opportunity for people to have a conversation with their family or close friends about their choices when it comes to donating their organs.
Around 70,000 people on the Isle of Wight have already declared their decision through the NHS Organ Donor Register.
However, people need to tell their family to help ensure they support their decision if they are approached about organ donation by a specialist nurse in hospital.
When a family is approached, 9 out of 10 will agree to donation if they know their family member was on the Organ Donor Register and has talked about their decision.
Even though the law around organ donation has now changed across England, Scotland and Wales to an Opt Out system, family members will still always be consulted before organ donation goes ahead.
This means it is still just as important as ever to register your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register and ensure your friends and family know what you want.
Vikki Crickmore, Consultant Nurse Critical Care and Clinical Lead for Organ Donation at St Mary’s hospital Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said:
“There are thousands of people across the UK waiting for a life-saving donation. We need people across the Isle of Wight, regardless of age, to register their decision and talk with their friends and family about organ donation to ensure their wishes are met.
“Having this conversation with your loved ones gives them the certainty they need, at what can be a very difficult time, to support your organ donation decision and save lives in future.
“With the increase in the number of people waiting for transplants, it’s more important than ever to register your organ donation decision and make it known to your family and friends.”
Alex, who was the recipient of a donor kidney, said:
"I'm the fortunate recipient of a live donor through my mother in law who recovered well. Before I received my kidney I wasn't confident of a future watching my son growing up.
"I can now look forward to a life with my wife, son and a daughter on the way. None of this would be possible without the gift of a, donation which is really the gift of life."
Julia Ross, Chair of the island’s Organ Donation Committee said:
"We are truly fortunate with our wonderful team of nurses, doctors and many others on the island. I know from my personal experience of the agonising wait for my son's transplant how vital it is that we all talk about this. Otherwise it just doesn't happen often enough. This means we must all tell our families if we want to donate our organs.
"I was deeply honoured to be asked to chair the Isle of Wight Organ Donation Committee on a voluntary basis and now I am very grateful to you all for your help and support."
To find out more and register your decision, visit the NHS Organ Donor Register at www.organdonation.nhs.uk 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.
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