More people from Oxfordshire saving lives through deceased organ donation

New figures reveal the number of lifesaving organ donations from patients who died at the John Radcliffe Hospital have doubled over the last decade, helping the UK reach its highest ever number of donors.

There are currently 30 at the Oxford hospital, up from 15 in 2008.

NHS Blood and Transplant and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have released the figures as part of today's (Monday 9 July 2018) publication of the annual Transplant Activity Report.

The report, which provides latest figures on the number of organ donors, transplant waiting lists and transplant activity for the UK, reveals growing support for donation across the county and country.

There are more than 330,000 people from across Oxfordshire on the NHS Organ Donor Register, an increase from 308,000 the previous year.

Nationally, there were a record number of organ donors, with 1,574 people saving lives through deceased organ donation over the last year.

However, the overall national shortage of donors remains and there is an urgent need for more people to support donation.

Dr Simon Raby, Clinical Lead for Organ Donation at the Trust, said: "Please tell your family that you want to support donation. Spending a few minutes speaking to your loved ones about donation could help you save lives.

"If your family know that you would choose to donate it is easier for them to help that brave choice if you are in hospital.

"The ability to give someone a new heart or to stop someone's three days of dialysis a week is the most valuable gift you can give."

Around three people die every day in need of a donated organ but many people have never told their relatives they want to save lives.

Sally Johnson, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "We're incredibly grateful to Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and all the brave and generous families who agreed to donate their loved one's organs for lifesaving transplants.

"Organ donation is the only hope for many desperately ill people. We know many families feel a sense of pride and comfort from their decision to save lives through organ donation.

"We want more people to have that opportunity to save lives."

The Oxford Transplant Centre, based at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, provides kidney transplants for six counties and pancreas and bowel transplantation for a wider area.

About 100 patients a year receive a kidney transplant in Oxford, and the region served stretches between Swindon in the south, Gloucester in the west, High Wycombe in the east and Banbury in the north.

Tell your family you want to save lives through organ donation and join the NHS Organ Donor by visiting www.organdonation.nhs.uk