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ORGAN TRANSPLANT LAW
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ORGAN TRANSPLANTS: Opt-out system launches across England in May Local woman urges families to discuss organ donation decision
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LAST MONTH, a Wokingham woman received a life-changing liver transplant. Now she is urging everyone to speak to their families about their decision to opt-in or out as the new law comes into effect.
Reflecting on the success of her operation, Emmbrook resident, Eloise Laurent is aware how difficult it is to find a donor.
In just over two months time, the biggest change to organ donation in England will happen.
As of Wednesday, May 20 an optout system will be in place, meaning that all adults will have agreed to be an organ donor when they die, unless they have recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups.
Ms Laurent spoke to Wokingham.Today about her plans to raise awareness for organ donation and liver disease, after a successful transplant on Saturday, February 15.
After being on the donor waiting list for three months, the 24-year-old received a call about a potential donation — for this she would have to travel to Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham.
“You get a call in the middle of the night, the suitcases are always packed. I had three phone calls, so three trips to Birmingham before they found the right one,” said Ms Laurent.
“The first was too big for me, the second time they didn’t have enough beds and the third was too fatty.
Ms Laurent began experiencing symptoms at just 16, but by the age of 24 her liver had stopped functioning properly. The only option was a transplant.
“I had cryptogenic liver failure, so they don’t know what caused it.
“In 2019, I ended up at the Royal Berkshire Hospital because I had turned yellow, my body was shutting down,” she said.
Talking about the new law, she said: “I don’t know why they didn’t introduce it earlier. They estimate it will save around 700-750 lives this year, at the moment it’s only 200-250 a year. It’s so difficult for people to get an organ donor, ethnic minorities always have shortages.
“You’re given the gift of life. I called my new liver Denise, I got it during storm Dennis, so we called it Dennis but then we found out the donor was a woman.
Even after the law changes, families will still be involved before any organ or tissue donation goes ahead.
“I just want to make sure people talk to their families, it’s so important,” she said.
“If they don’t know, you might not be able to donate. One person can save up to nine lives. I have a life now. I’m not yellow anymore.
Between 2018 and 2019, 21 people in Berkshire donated their organs for transplants after death. This resulted in 59 transplants.
As of January, there were 333,290 people across Berkshire on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
It is hoped that with the upcoming law change, more donors will be able to save more lives, after their own has ended.
Anthony Clarkson, director of organ donation and transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “The majority of people tell us that they support organ donation in principle, yet only around four in 10 have actually registered
Eloise Laurent had a successful liver transplant last month, after multiple
unsuccessful matches. Picture: courtesy of Eloise Laurent their decision.” what you want.
The law change is also being “I am proud that when people called Max and Keira’s Law — after speak about Max and Keira’s Law, Max Johnson, the 12-year-old heart they will be reminded to think of recipient, who championed this law Keira, and I hope by remembering change, and his young donor, Keira her in this way, that she will go on to Ball. help save even more lives than she
Max said: “There are so many already has.” people who are waiting, just like I In 2015, Wales adopted an opt-out was, for the call to say that a suitable organ donation system. Jersey heart, kidney, lungs or liver has been introduced the system in July last found. year and this Autumn, Scotland will
“When you are waiting for a be doing so as well. transplant, every day counts and I To find out more, or to register hope that everyone who hears about your decision to opt-in or opt-out, the law change will be reminded to visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk or speak to their family, so they know call 0300 303 2094.
Residents invited to Mayor’s charity ball
WOKINGHAM Borough mayor is inviting residents to a charity ball later this month.
Cllr Bill Soane will be holding a Spring Soiree on Saturday, March 28 at Billingbear Farm.
Funds raised from the event will go to the mayor’s charity of the year, Debra UK — who support people with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).
Attendees are invited to dress to impress, and will be treated to a glass of fizz on arrival.
Tickets include a hog roast, or vegetarian option with evening entertainment including a charity raffle, DJ and dance floor.
Cllr Soane said: “I am very excited to be hosting a Spring Soirée in support of Debra UK. The charity works hard to support people who suffer with EB, a group of genetic skin conditions that cause skin to blister and tear at the slightest touch.
The event will run from 7pm until 11.30pm, tickets cost £50 per person.
Antique valuation evening to support orphaned children in India
TREASURED family antiques will be valued at a fundraiser for SalGO Assist, a charity that helps house orphans in India, writes Daisy Hanson.
An entry fee of £2.50 will go to the charity, which helps children in dangerous situations thrive by providing housing, support with school work, and safety.
The Revd Clifford Smith and his recently deceased wife Patricia founded the charity which aims to support the lives of the most vulnerable children in Bapatla, India.
One of the children the charity helped, Polamma, was living on the streets. With their support she was housed, enrolled in school, and went on to become a midwife.
Three years ago the charity completed their biggest project to date, the building of the Pat Smith Girls Home, which has its own garden and outside play area.
The money raised at the antique event will be put towards their current projects, one of which is a new house building operation for families.
The fundraiser is in collaboration with Martin & Pole, an estate agents and chartered surveyors business which also run auctions in Wokingham. The business will provide three antique valuers.
There is a maximum of two antiques allowed per visitor, and after the valuing there is no obligation to sell on the antique.
The event will be at the St Mary the Virgin church in Winnersh on Saturday, March 28, from 2pm.
For more details visit SalGO Assist on Facebook.
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Hat trick of honours for digital agency
By JOHN WAKEFIELD news@wokinghampaper.co.uk
A HAT TRICK of honours was presented to a Finchampstead businesses woman last month, ensuring that her 20th anniversary celebrations launched with a bang.
Carol Blackford-Mills, who own digital marketing agency MRS Digital won two awards and one runner-up prize at the National Business Women’s Awards. They included business owner of the year and employer of the year.
She was runner-up for the service excellence category.
For the Business Owner of the Year award, judges wanted an entrant who had built their company from the ground-up, and made some fantastic achievements along the way.
They needed to be a committed and exemplary business owner who could demonstrate high standards of customer service.
The winner of the Employer of the Year award had to be someone who truly cares about their employees. They needed to have a history of staff satisfaction and an environment in which the whole team felt valued.
To be considered for the Service Excellence award, businesses had to illustrate their ethos of going above and beyond in order to provide quality service to their customers.
MRS Digital was founded at the end of 1999, and Ms Blackford-Mills said that since then it has grown both in regards to service offering and in number of employees.
Ms Blackford-Mills said: “Having spent 20 years building a business that I am proud to call my own, I am absolutely thrilled to receive these awards, and from such an important awarding body.
“As a woman in business, times have not always been easy, but with support from my family and the incredible MRS team I’ve persevered and we are still going strong.
“I look forward to many more years of success.”
Carol Blackford-Mills with her two National Business Women’s Awards
Bathroom store to clean up with spring party
IT’S PARTY time for a Wokingham town centre bathroom store.
Ripples is celebrating the arrival of spring with the special event, which will take place in its Rose Street centre.
It says that guests will be able to enjoy drinks and canapés while seeing some of the luxurious ranges it stocks. They include concrete basins to freestanding boat baths and marble tiles.
Owner and director of Ripples Wokingham, Imran Azam, said: “This is a really exciting time for us, I am so delighted by the quality and choice of products we have in our showroom.”
The company opened its first showroom back in 1988, in the spa town of Bath, and has expanded steadily since then. The Wokingham branch is its 13th store.
It says that its USP is that its bathroom designers individually hand draw their bathroom designs and embrace the challenge of creating unique bathrooms that are tailored to customers’ individual needs.
Mr Azam added: “Our customers have been blown away so far by the personal service we provide and the variety of unique products we have.”
The Spring Party will be held on Thursday, March 19, from 5.30pm to 9.30pm.
Call for entries to Commerce awards Shirt offer to help with job interviews
PROGRESS and achievements will be celebrated this June at the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce (TVCC) awards.
Running for its third year, the annual awards scheme will continue to recognise local businesses’ success in 12 categories including Best Use of Technology, Workplace Wellbeing and Family Business of the Year.
And new to 2020, the Contribution to the Community award will praise the work of companies who have used their business as a platform to give back to their local area.
Head of Membership at TVCC, Gavin Spencer, said: “Each year, hundreds of companies from across the Thames Valley enter and we are inundated with completed forms.
“Many of the categories are aligned with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and those winners will automatically be put through to the national awards.
“Our official launch at Ascot was a great success, with both past winners and those looking to gain insight on the process in attendance.” Heathrow has been confirmed as the headline sponsor for the Thames Valley Business of the Year award, with other sponsors to date including GEMS, Generate UK, GWR, James Cowper Kreston, Owen White Solicitors, SEGRO and TrueSwift.
The Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce (TVCC) awards will take place on Thursday, June 25 at the Reading Hilton Hotel.
For more information or to enter the awards log on to thamesvalley chamber.awardsplatform.com. A NEW scheme has been launched to help disadvantaged women look smart for job interviews, writes Daisy Hanson.
For every shirt bought from clothing brand With Nothing Underneath until Monday, March 16, a similar one will be donated to Smart Works Reading.
The charity helps disadvantaged women in the Thames Valley prepare for the workplace. They offer interview coaching and free formal clothes that the client can keep.
Last year Smart Works supported more than 300 women with their interviews, and 66% went on to get the job.
The charity’s chair and founder, Sarah Burns, said: “With the support of With Nothing Underneath and their customers, we’ll be able to help even more of our clients look and feel the part ahead of that allimportant job interview”.
The donation campaign is in support of International Women’s Day, which is on Sunday, March 8.
The clothing brand’s founder, Pip Durell, said: “Having spent time at Smart Works Reading I am honoured that With Nothing Underneath can support the work they do there in this small way”.
To buy and donate a shirt visit www.withnothingunderneath.com.
