Families continue save and improve lives through deceased organ donation at UHNM

New figures out today reveal that there were 38 patients who donated their organs after death at University Hospitals of North Midlands last year, helping save or improve the lives of 4,532 people desperately in need of a transplant across the UK.

NHS Blood and Transplant and UHNM have released the figures to mark the publication of the annual Organ Donation and Transplantation Activity Report showing that Royal Stoke University Hospital was one of the top five donor hospitals in the UK last year.

The annual report shows deceased organ donation in the UK increased by two per cent last year thanks to the continuing recovery of organ donation and transplant activity following the Covid-19 pandemic. 1,429 people in total donated their organs after death last year, including 38 at Royal Stoke.

Despite this, the number of people being listed for a transplant has increased, due to most being suspended during the height of the pandemic and, subsequently, others needing a transplant being added to the list. There are more than 7,000 people on the active waiting list and a further 3,822 temporarily suspended.

Dr Matthew Lewis, UHNM Medical Director, said:

“During the last year, from 46 consented donors we facilitated 38 actual solid organ donors, resulting in 96 patients receiving a transplant during the time period. Additionally, 68 corneas were received by NHSBT Eye Banks from UHNM.

The referral of potential organ donors to our organ donation service and the participation of a Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation in the approach to our family members to discuss organ donation are key steps in ensuring the success of our organ donation and I would like to thank them for helping facilitate this vital service.

He added:  “Please register your organ donation decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. If you family know what you want to happen when you die, they are much more likely to honour that decision and make organ donation is a possibility.”

Find out more and register your decision by visiting NHS Organ Donor Register at www.organdonation.nhs.uk and share your decision with your family.

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For more information please contact communications@uhnm.nhs.uk or the NHS Blood and Transplant press office on 01923 367600 or pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk