AWARD-WINNING actress Eva Birthistle, daughter of Niall Birthistle, Chairman of the Western Health and Social Care Trust, visited Altnagelvin Hospital recently to lend support to the Western Trust’s organ donation campaign.
Organ donation saves and transforms lives and during the past ten years the number of people in the United Kingdom donating organs after death has doubled.
However, the number of patients requiring organ transplants continues to exceed the total number of organs donated.
Sadly each day on average three people die in the United Kingdom while waiting for an organ transplant and in Northern Ireland approximately 12 to 18 patients die each year.
Becoming a donor after your death could help save the lives of up to seven people.
Lending her support the Western Trust’s Organ Donation campaign, Eva Birthistle said: “I think it’s about making people aware, because making a difference is so easy, just by registering you can save lives and who wouldn’t want to do that?”
Declan Grace, Lead Clinician for Organ Donation at the Western Trust commented: “People in Northern Ireland overwhelmingly support organ donation.
“However, currently 39.2 % of the adult population in Northern Ireland have registered as potential donors.
“In the event that at the end of your life you might become a donor your next of kin will always be asked to give consent for donation to proceed.
“Being aware of the wishes of the deceased or dying patient makes it significantly easier for next of kin to fulfil this wish to donate.”
The Western Trust is asking everyone to consider becoming a potential donor by signing the Organ Donor register and to make sure to inform their next of kin of their desire to donate.
There are many ways to register as a potential donor:
• Register online at www.organdonation.nhs.uk or www.organdonation.ni.info
• Register when applying for or renewing a driving licence.
• Register when registering with a G.P Practice.
• Telephone the N.H.S. Donor Line 0300 123 23 23. Telephone lines are open 24 hours a day all year round.
• Download a form from www.organdonation.nhs.uk, print it and return it by Freepost
• Register when applying for a Boot’s Advantage Card.
Each of us can save a life. Together we shall save many lives. Let’s do it!
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