Northern Trust supports Organ Donation Week

The Northern Trust is encouraging everyone to support Organ Donation Week (5-11 Sept) by signing the Organ Donation Register (ODR) and discussing their wishes with their family.

The Campaign, being run by the Public Health Agency, is using the strapline ‘Turn an end into a beginning’ and aims to raise awareness of organ donation in Northern Ireland. Recent figures indicate that 38% of people in Northern Ireland have signed the Organ Donation Register.

Leona Laverty, Organ Donation Specialist Nurse with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, said: “We are urging everyone to have the conversation with your loved ones. The number of people on the ODR in this area is in line with the Northern Ireland average but we know that more can be done. Evidence shows that consent rates increase where families have discussed organ donation wishes. It’s so important that people sign the register, have the conversation and ultimately more people’s lives are saved as a result.”

There is a real shortage of organs in Northern Ireland. At the end of June 159 people were waiting on a transplant. The majority of people are waiting for a kidney or liver transplant but there are also people waiting for heart, lung and pancreas transplants. Every year around 15 people in Northern Ireland die waiting for an organ transplant.

Leona continued: “One person can save the lives of up to nine people through organ donation. If you want to become an organ donor it’s important to tell your loved one’s so that they can support your decision. I would urge people this Organ Donation Week to Turn an end into a beginning.”

To support the campaign an organ donation website has been established providing all the necessary information and the link to sign up to the Organ Donation Register. Anyone interested should visit www.organdonationni.info.

9th September 2016