Organ Donation Week 2019

Between Monday, September 2 and Sunday, September 8, Organ Donation Week is being marked, the week is a highlight of the year for NHS Blood and Transport, with a week of activities shining a light on the generosity of organ donors and the impact that they have on transplant recipients across the UK each day, as well as an opportunity to educate, inform and inspire people, to save and improve lives.

Organ Donation Week last year saw more people than ever sign up as organ donors with a big public push promoting the awareness campaign including at the Great North Run, where well-known faces including Gabby Logan and members of the cast of popular ITV soap opera, Emmerdale helped raise awareness of organ donation, and Organ Donation Week in 2019 looks set to be another exciting, action-packed week.

Presently there are around 6,342 people on the UK transplant waiting list, in recent years, around 400 people die each year whilst waiting for a vital organ. The most common transplanted organs are the heart, kidney, liver and lungs, but other body parts including the pancreas and small bowel can also be the subject of a transplant as can tissue matter such as corneas, heart valves, skin and tendons.

As the law currently stands in England, those who wish to donate organs can sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register, by signing up, the register expresses their wish and legal authorisation to donate organs. Everyone who is legally competent can register, however, those who have CJD, cancer that has spread in the last 12 months or HIV cannot donate, HIV patients can however donate to another person with HIV.

Official guidance in relation to organ donation is constantly changing, as a result, it is best to refer to the latest guidelines given by NHS Blood and Transplant which is responsible for blood and organ donation in England. In spring 2020, perhaps the biggest change ever when it comes to organ donation in English law takes place with the arrival of an opt out law for donations, also known as Max and Keira’s Law.

Under the law, all adults in England will be considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when they die unless they have recorded a decision not to donate or are aged 18 or younger, lack the
mental capacity to understand the new arrangements and take necessary action, visitors
to England, those not living in England voluntarily, and people who have lived in England for less than 12 months before death.

Love Your Liver

The liver is an incredible organ which takes care of many
aspects of the body’s functions including important bile production, blood glucose control, and vitamin, mineral and hormone regulation. It is important to understand the impact
that your diet can have on your liver, refined starch, which is contained in flour and rice dishes, and fructose which can be found in high levels in fizzy drinks sugary cereals, and processed desserts can in large amounts lead to liver disease, therefore these items should be eaten in moderation. 

Donation In Focus

For more information about
organ donation, visit:
www.organdonation.nhs.uk