NNUH urges people to sign organ donor register

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is backing National Transplant Week – 4th to 10th July – by asking people to sign up to the organ donor register.

While waiting for their transplant at a specialist centre, many Norfolk patients receive their day-to-day healthcare, such as renal dialysis, either at NNUH or at Cromer Hospital. 
 
Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation Marie Garside, who is based at NNUH, says:  “It only takes a few minutes to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register and you could save a life.  Many people think they are too old but there‘s no age limit for donors and you could still help someone even if your health is less than perfect.”

“Some people still carry the old donor cards but we would ask them to contact the register to ensure their details are up-to-date and can be accessed quickly should the need arise.”   

Over 7,500 people in the UK are currently waiting for an organ transplant and, on average, three people who need a transplant die every day whilst waiting.

Transplant Week is a national event which takes places between 4th – 10th July.  It aims to increase awareness of organ donation and the issues that surround it by focusing on how long people are currently waiting to receive a transplant.

Transplant Week is run by the NHS Blood and Transplant Service (NHSBT) who are calling on the UK public to reduce the waiting times for a transplant by registering with the Donor Register by calling 0300 123 23 23 or visiting www.organdonation.nhs.uk

Find out more at: http://www.transplantweek.co.uk