I thought I would share this important information from the NHS
Dear Councillor Hopley
This Organ Donation Week (23rd – 29th September) NHS Blood and Transplant is celebrating 30 years since the establishment of the Organ Donation Register (ODR) and are urging everyone, including your constituents, to register their organ donation decision online at www.organdonation.nhs.uk .
Since the inception of the ODR across the UK there have been more than 100,000 transplants, with around 60,000 patients still alive today! This is a tremendous achievement and underpins the important role the ODR plays in saving and improving lives of seriously ill patients and why your constituents should be encouraged to register their organ donation decision.
Every day someone in the UK dies waiting for a transplant, due to a shortage of people donating. At present, there are more than 7,500 people waiting for a transplant. However, as only 1,400 people die (only 1 percent) in circumstances where organ donation is possible, every donation is precious and can make such a difference.
In Croydon Council there have been 695 and 396 patients are still alive thanks to the generous gift of life by a donor family with 63 people waiting for a transplant, yet there are only 109966 constituents who have registered their organ donation decision.
We are seeking your assistance to reach out to your supporters and patients to register their organ donation decision either online at www.organdonation.nhs.uk or via the NHS APP.
During the week we’re appealing to the public to take 2 minutes to help save up to 9 lives in the future by confirming their organ donation decision.
Included, at the bottom of this email, are some social media assets and suggested social media posts you can use freely. There is also a link to our website where further assets can be downloaded.
Families are far more likely to support donation if a person has registered their support of organ donation on the register, and families say it gives them comfort and reassurance to have that confirmation it was what their relative wanted.
Organ donation will only go ahead with the support of the family. This means it is just as important as ever to add your name and decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register, because families are more likely to support the decision of someone who has registered.
Each organ donor has the potential to save or improve up to nine lives, or even more if people donate tissues – such as corneas, skin, and bone.
I thank you in advance for your support to help save and improve more lives.
If you have any questions about this year’s campaign, or need any extra assistance, please do contact me directly.
Kind regards
Bruce
