Published: Wednesday, 28th January, 2009 12:30pm

Wee County public helps register hit 16m target

by Nicola Findlay

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A CALL to double the number of people on the NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR) to 16 million has been achieved – 12 months before the planned target date.

The appeal was launched in 2001 when the register stood at eight million, with 5532 people waiting for transplant.

Now more than a quarter – 26 per cent of the UK population – have joined the ODR pledging their organs for transplant after their death – but the number waiting for the call telling them that a life-saving organ has been found for them has risen to almost 8000 and continues to steadily increase.

A campaign launched by the Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser last year saw an extra 1000 people sign up to the Organ Donation Register in Clackmannanshire alone, with 14,500 people on the register in October.

The Advertiser campaign, backed by Gordon Banks MP, also highlighted the stories of patients in Clackmannanshire desperately waiting for a transplant.

This included Sarah Murray, from Sauchie, who received a double lung transplant and is now making the most of her new lease of life and is planning to study nursing at university.

Whilst Mr Banks is delighted that there are now 16 million people on the register a year earlier than hoped, he is urging residents in the Wee County to continue to sign up.

He said, 'The increase in potential donors in Scotland is, of course, very welcome and I like to think that campaigns such as ours have had a part to play in these positive figures.

'The numbers of donors are up but so are the numbers of people awaiting a transplant. Without a change to our thinking and to our legislation we will continue to face the sad reality that demand for organs far exceeds supply.'

Mr Banks also welcomed the announcement last week that Taunton MP Jeremy Browne is to bring forward the Organ Donation (Presumed Consent) Bill which aims to increase the number of organs available for transplant in the UK.

He added, 'I fully support the aims and objectives of Jeremy"s Bill but there are a great many obstacles to overcome before this Bill becomes law, so my optimism is tempered slightly.

'However if this bill is successful we must ensure that it"s objectives are matched by appropriate resources.'

Since January 2001, 23,551 life-saving organ transplants have been made possible thanks to the generosity of donors and their families but during the same period, at least 4500 people died while waiting because a suitable organ could not be found in time.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), the UK-wide organ donation organisation, have paid tribute to those who have made this achievement possible.

Lynda Hamlyn, chief executive of NHSBT, said, 'Reaching 16 million on the NHS Organ Donor Register a year before planned is testament to the support that exists for donation in the UK.

'More than quarter of the population have demonstrated their commitment by signing the Register. 

'But, with 8000 people in the UK currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, we need to do more.

'Around 3000 organ transplants take place in this country every year, but during the same period approximately 1000 people – three a day – die while waiting because of the shortage of donated organs.

'Please join the NHS Organ Donor Register.

'If you have already signed up, please talk to your friends and relatives about doing so.

'Every time someone joins, they offer the possibility of transforming someone else"s life and the lives of their families through their generosity.'

Most organ transplants are carried out as a result of donation after death, but today at least one in three of all kidney transplants take place through living donation, most often between couples and other family members.

The most popular ways to join the ODR are through the driver licence application and through applications to register with a new GP practice.

Other ways to register include the Boots Advantage Card, passport applications, a number of local authority SmartCard schemes and through the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).