Families continue save and improve lives through deceased organ donation at The Walton Centre

New figures out today reveal that there were 19 patients who donated their organs after death at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust 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 The Walton Centre have released the figures to mark the publication of the annual Organ Donation and Transplantation Activity Report showing that the Trust was one of the top 20 donor hospitals in the UK last year.

The annual report shows deceased organ donation in the UK increased by 2% 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 19 at the specialist neurosciences hospital.

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.

Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation at The Walton Centre Catherine Ellis said: “As a team, we work hard with Intensive Care staff and wider hospital to make sure organ donation is a key consideration. The nature of some of the patients we receive at The Walton Centre means that we can work closely with relatives and friends to carry out their loved one’s wishes, putting them at the heart of this often lifechanging process. I’m proud of everyone involved here, it’s a team effort and that’s reflected in the latest report.

“Please register your organ donation decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. If your family are aware of your end-of-life decisions, they are much more likely to honour that decision and make organ donation a possibility.”

The specialist Trust cared for 19 patients who went on to be organ donors, 16 donated multiple organs, including four hearts. 

Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Over 50,000 people are alive in the UK today thanks to the life-saving gift of organ donation. But this wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our incredible donors and their families who have given their support for donation at what is often the most difficult of times.

“We know that most people support organ donation in principle, and we have seen a steady increase in the number of people confirming their support for organ donation via the NHS Organ Donor Register.
“However, we still need families to support their loved one’s decision and agree to donation when approached, which we know is most likely when they know that’s what they wanted.
“We urge everyone who supports organ donation to confirm their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. It is a simple action which only takes two minutes; but can ultimately save lives.”

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.

-Ends-

 

Photo attached: The North West Organ Donation Services Team, Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation at The Walton Centre, second from right.

• Notes to editors
• Further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact the Communications Team at The Walton Centre on 0151 556 3397 or wcft.communications@nhs.net
• Contact the NHS Blood and Transplant press office on 01923 367600 or pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk

• To find out more about organ donation, the law change, or to opt in or out, visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call the dedicated advice line on 0300 303 2094

• The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. Although the majority of patients come from Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire and the Isle of Man, for some specialist treatments of complex disorders we see patients from all parts of the country, referred by their GPs or other neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain clinicians.
  The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust was rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission. The independent regulator of all health and social care services in England published its rating on Friday 21 October 2016, following announced and unannounced inspection visits to the Trust in April 2016.

For more information please visit: www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk or follow the Trust on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Lower Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool L9 7LJ
0151 525 3611

 

• NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority. Its remit includes the provision of a reliable, efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS in England. It is also the organ donor organisation for the whole of the UK and is responsible for matching and allocating donated organs.