Calls to talk about organ donation as the latest number of Hartlepool patients on transplant list is revealed

England moved to an opt out system, bringing in Max and Keira’s law, in May this year, and the NHS Blood and Transplant service hope public support for organ donation will continue to improve.

New figures published on Tuesday, July 21, show that as of February 29 there were 13 people in Hartlepool waiting for a transplant that could save or change their lives for the better.

The number of people who have donated organs after their death has been hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

But numbers have started to improve with the majority of transplant units now reopened.

And the NHS was on track to surpass the number of organ donors in 2019/20 compared to the previous year before Covid-19 hit.

Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Amazing organ donors and their families make life-saving transplants possible, by giving their support and saying ‘yes’ to organ donation.

“It is disappointing but inevitable that donation and transplantation has been impacted by the worldwide pandemic.

“As we learn to live with Covid-19 and boosted by the new law and growing public support, we hope more lives than ever before can be saved.

"I urge everyone in Hartlepool to make their organ donation decision and tell their family about it.”

Last year, 1,580 people in the UK donated their organs after they died while there are more than 6,000 people in need of a transplant.

In the Durham area, there are 90 patients in need of a transplant and sadly 32 people have died before they received the organ they desperately needed in the last five years.

Mr Clarkson added: “We are, along with our fantastic NHS colleagues, focused on the continued recovery of this immensely important work, which brings comfort to grieving families and gives people another chance at life.”

To find out more about organ donation, and to register your decision visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk

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