Staff at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are supporting a national campaign to promote organ donation and encourage people to share their wishes with their loved ones.
The law around organ donation is changing in England; and it is more important than ever to talk openly about organ donation. The change means that from spring 2020, all adults in England will be considered an organ donor when they die unless they had recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups.
The overall national shortage of donors remains and there is an urgent need for more people to support donation. Around three people still die a day in need of a donated organ but many people have never told their relatives they want to save lives. 6,264 people are currently waiting for a transplant in the UK alone.
Organ Donation Week is an annual, nationally celebrated campaign to shine a light on the generosity of donors and the incredible impact they have on transplant recipients, and an opportunity to educate, inform and inspire people, to help save and improve more lives through organ donation. The week takes place from Monday 2nd September – Sunday 8th September this year.
To celebrate the week, numerous events will be held across Royal Preston Hospital and Chorley District Hospital which will encourage people to speak about organ donation and ask any questions that they may have.
On Monday 2nd September, there will be a “cupcake and a catch up” stall at the main entrance at Royal Preston Hospital where visitors can find out more about organ donation and try their hand at a giant operation game, with some great prizes on offer. An identical event will also be held at Chorley District Hospital on Wednesday 4th September.
On Thursday 5th September, two “Time to Talk” sessions will be taking place at Accrington Town Hall for all the family to hear about organ donation and the opt-out system. Attendees can register for this event here
Finally, on Friday 6th September, visitors will be asked to #JointheJourney and join a 40 mile virtual cycle from Royal Preston Hospital to Manchester Royal Infirmary to mark the end of Organ Donation Week. This journey will imitate the journey that donor organs take from the hospital to the local transplant centre. There will be a static bike in the main entrance to Royal Preston Hospital which visitors will be able to use to take turns to contribute to the 40 mile distance.
Karen Partington, Chief Executive at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “We are proud to be supporting Organ Donation Week this year and encourage anyone who is interested to attend the events taking place throughout the week to find out more about organ donation and start conversations about the subject.”
“We are so grateful to every individual, and their families, who have helped others through organ donation. We would urge people who support the lifesaving power of organ donation to join the NHS Organ Donor Register and tell their families they want to donate.”
You can find out more information about organ donation and register to be an organ donor at https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/.