BEDFORDSHIRE FAMILIES URGED TO TALK ABOUT ORGAN DONATION
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are urging people to talk to their families about organ donation to increase the number of people whose lives can be saved or transformed by an organ transplant. From 20th May this year, the law around organ donation changed in England. All adults are now considered as having agreed to donate their own organs when they die, unless they record a decision not to donate, are in one of the excluded groups or have told their family that they don’t want to donate. Doctors and specialist nurses at Bedfordshire Hospitals, are urging families across the district to talk about their organ donation decision and make sure their loved ones are aware as families will continue to be approached before organ donation goes ahead.
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Maciej Ryszka, Clinical Lead for Organ Donation at Bedfordshire Hospitals said: “Knowing what your relative wanted, helps families support their decision around organ donation at what is often a difficult time. We need more people in Bedfordshire to talk about organ donation to increase the number of lifesaving transplants.” These conversations are especially important for residents from BAME backgrounds. People from these communities are more likely to need a transplant, however, often wait longer as the best match will often come from someone of the same ethnicity. Find out more and register your decision by visiting NHS Organ Donor Register at www. organdonation.nhs.uk and most importantly, share your decision with your family.
