The Order of St John Awards for Organ Donation and Tissue Donation

The Order of St John Award for Organ Donation is a posthumous award given in partnership with the NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). Since 2013 awards have been presented to donor families on behalf of her Majesty The Queen in recognition of the gift of life given to others through their deceased loved one's organ donation. All donor families have the opportunity if they so wish to attend a ceremony organised by St John Priory Groups and NHSBT. The Lord Lieutenant or Vice Lord Lieutenant of the county presents individual awards inscribed with the words “add life, give hope” to the nominated representative(s) of each family present. The focus of the evening is very much on the families attending and for those who attend the ceremony from St John and NHSBT it is a privilege and honour to be there.

The summer of 2019 saw the start of The Order of St John Awards for Tissue Donation although because of the impact of the Covid pandemic the ofcial launch has only recently taken place in a private ceremony in our Priory Church in London. This again is run in conjunction with NHSBT. Tissue donation is when corneas, heart valves, tendons, arteries and bone are donated after death; a tissue donor can potentially help more than 50 people. The families of around 3,500 people who each year donate their tissue after death are now being offered an award in their loved one's name. This very special certicate recognises the donor's seless contribution to others and is sent privately to families.

Liz Srogi OStJ St John Priory Group Durham, Chair November 2021