Our Organ Donation team had a stand in our front foyer yesterday, Tuesday 27 September, and presented three of our hospital teams with cakes, as part of their activities to raise awareness during Organ Donation Week.
Natalie and Keith with the stand in our foyer yesterday.
Specialist Organ Donation Nurse Natalie Ashley and Keith Shuttleworth, who has a very personal link to organ donation, spoke with staff and visitors at the hospital to raise awareness of the need to have a conversation with your loved ones about whether you want to become an organ donor. They also presented our Intensive Care Unit, Theatres and Emergency Department teams with a cake each to thank them for their role in supporting organ donation.
Each year, hundreds of opportunities for transplants are missed because families aren't sure what to do. Although the law around organ donation has changed to an opt out system in many parts of the UK, your family will still be consulted if organ donation is a possibility.
If you want to be an organ donor after you die, it's really important that you talk to your loved ones and make sure they understand and support your organ donation decision. You can also register your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
If you decide not to become an organ donor, you can still help your family through a difficult time by talking to them about your organ donation decision now, and making sure they know what you want.
Keith, whose wife died in November 2017, made the decision to donate her organs after the couple had the conversation and she made it clear that she wanted to donate.
“We want people to tell their families what they want to happen should they ever be in the position where they may have to make a choice. Please tell your family what you want – that conversation is the most important thing.”
You can hear more from Keith about his experience in our video below.
Not only did Keith’s wife save and change other lives, but through his experience Keith has gone on to support organ donation, working with hospital teams and Rosedale Funeral Home in Beccles to make promotional videos and give lectures about the subject to encourage others to have the conversation. We’d like to thank him for all his help and support.
The Organ Donation website has more information about helping you decide and talking to your loved ones; https://www.organdonation.nhs.