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[The following Press Release was issued by UK TRANSPLANT in March 2003 (No. 44/03)]

SURVEY SHOWS HUGE SUPPORT FOR ORGAN DONATION

Nine out of every ten people in the UK support organ donation, according to a new survey.

But – despite this enormous support for life-saving transplants – less than one in six people have registered their wishes on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

The big disparity between support and action is revealed by a nationwide survey commissioned by UK Transplant, the NHS special health authority, which is responsible for maintaining the list of patients waiting for an organ; matching and allocating donated organs and maintaining and publicising the register.

The survey showed huge support for a register of donors – 92% of those who supported or were unsure about organ donation supported a central register. But 36% of them were unaware the NHS Organ Donor Register existed; 26% had never thought about joining; 17% hadn’t got round to it and 10% said they didn’t know how to register. One in 20 (5%) of those who supported the organ donation but had not joined, told researchers they felt uncomfortable discussing – or even thinking about – their death.

One in 25 (4%) of people questioned said they opposed the donation of organs to help others.

The NHS Organ Donor Register, a confidential, computerised database, was launched in 1994 and holds the names and wishes of more than 10.3 million people willing to leave a legacy of life for someone else after their death.

Sue Sutherland, Chief Executive of UK Transplant said: “This is an overwhelming vote of support for organ donation and transplantation – it gives us faith in each other and hope to the thousands of people waiting for a transplant.

“I would appeal to everyone who supports organ donation to let their family know how they feel and to register their wishes on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

“A key reason why relatives feel unable to agree to donation is that they do not know what their loved one would have wished. We know however that family members rarely object if they know their relative wanted something positive to come from their death.”

The survey found that 36% of people who supported organ donation had, or thought they had, a donor card. Donor card holders had held their card for an average of 14½ years. Women were more likely to have a card than men. Half of all people questioned said there was still a need for a donor card despite the existence of the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Respondents who preferred to join the register rather than carry a card said:

“You can be sure that people know your wishes, as you might not always have your card with you.”

“No hassle – don’t have to carry a card around.”

“It makes it easier for my family because they know it’s what I want for sure.”

People can join the register on line by visiting www.uktransplant.org.uk when they apply for a driving licence, register with a new GP or apply for a new passport.  Registration leaflets and donor cards are also available from doctors' surgeries and by contacting the Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400 between 7am and 11pm.

Further information

• There are currently more than 5,500 patients in the UK waiting for the gift of an organ to save or transform their lives. Sadly, many will die due to the shortage of donated organs.
• Last year nearly 400 people died in the UK while waiting for a transplant.
• UK Transplant is committed to increasing the number of people on the NHS Organ Donor Register to 16m by 2010.
• Anyone wishing to have their details amended or removed from the register can simply write in or send a further form containing new details.

The survey was carried out by RBA of Leeds on behalf of UK Transplant. Researchers held group discussions in Bristol, Birmingham and Newcastle and conducted telephone interviews with 1,206 people across the country to get the views of a wide cross section of the community.

For further information contact UK Transplant Press Office on 0117 975 7476.

Background Information

What organs or tissue can I donate?

The organs that can be donated include heart, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, liver and small bowel.

Tissue that can be donated includes corneas, skin, bone, heart valves and other tissue. Corneas can be transplanted to restore the sight of a person who has a severe eye disease or injury. Bone and tendons are used for reconstruction after an injury or during joint replacement surgery. A bone transplant can prevent limb amputation in patients suffering from bone cancer.

Heart valves are used to help children born with heart defects and adults with diseased or damaged valves. Skin grafts are used as protective dressings to help save the lives of people with severe burns.  

Why are even more donors needed?

There is a serious shortage of organs and the gap between the number of organs donated and the number of people waiting for a transplant is increasing.

Transplants are very successful and the number of people needing a transplant is expected to rise steeply due to an ageing population, an increase in kidney failure and scientific advances which mean that more people are now able to benefit from a transplant.

The number of available organs has fallen for several reasons. Only a very small number of people die in circumstances where they are able to donate their organs. Because organs have to be transplanted very soon after someone has died they can only be donated by someone who has died in hospital.

Usually organs come from people who are certified dead while on a ventilator in a hospital intensive care unit, generally as a result of a major accident like a car crash, a brain haemorrhage or stroke.

The numbers of people, particularly younger people, dying in these circumstances is falling, mainly because of welcome improvements in road safety, medical advances in the treatment of patients and the prevention of strokes in younger people. While only a very few people die in circumstances which would enable their organs to be donated, virtually everyone can donate tissue after their death.

Another major reason is that many people have not thought about donation or discussed it with their families. Too few people have joined the NHS Organ Donor Register or made sure that their families know their wishes. Relatives who do not know a person’s wishes may refuse permission for organs to be used.

Why do we need to agree to become organ donors?

In the UK organs from a potential donor can only be used if the legal requirements of the Human Tissue and Human Organ Transplant Acts have been met. Under the Acts it is essential to try and find out whether the dead person objected to donation and to seek the views of close relatives.

Putting your name on the NHS Organ Donor Register and carrying a card makes it easy for your relatives to know your wishes. We know that if a person has expressed a wish to be an organ donor then their relatives rarely object.

What is the NHS Organ Donor Register?

The NHS Organ Donor Register is, quite literally, a life-saver. It is a confidential, computerised database which holds the wishes of more than ten million people who have decided that, after their death, they want to leave a legacy of life for others. The register is used after a person has died to help establish whether they wanted to donate and, if so, which organs.

Do I need to register if I have a donor card?

Yes. Cards can and do get lost or damaged and you may not be carrying one when you are taken to hospital. Adding your name to the register is a more permanent way of expressing your wishes. You can still carry a card if you wish to. Don’t forget to tell your relatives what your wishes are.

Why should I discuss my wishes with my relatives?

So that there can be no doubt about what you would want to happen. Families are always consulted when there is a possibility of organ donation. Facing up to the death of a loved one is hard. Having to make a decision about organ donation when you are unsure what that person would have wanted can be difficult.

Can older people be donors?

Yes, in the case of cornea and some other tissue, age does not matter. For other organs it is the person’s physical condition, not age, which is the deciding factor. Doctors decide in each case which organs/tissue are suitable. Organs from people in their seventies and eighties are transplanted

Can a donor be under sixteen?

Yes, if he or she has expressed such a wish and the parents or guardian agree to donation.

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