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Organ donation programme at Watford General saving more lives each year

Posted: 21 September 2023

Picture of the Naomi Prentice

West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has had its most successful year to date for deceased organ donations. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and Watford General Hospital released the figures to mark the publication of the 2022/23 Organ Donation and Transplantation Activity Report.

The report shows 12 patients donated their organs after death at Watford General Hospital last year, contributing to saving or improving the lives of 34 people. There are 4,532 people desperately in need of a transplant across the UK.

Becky Gorf, organ donation specialist nurse for the Eastern organ donation services team (pictured left), said: “This would not have been possible without the generosity of the donors and their families. We remain incredibly grateful for their ability to think of others at such a difficult time. The process of organ donation would also not be possible without the help and support of staff at Watford General Hospital, and on behalf of NHSBT I would like to thank them for their continued support.

“I would encourage the public to register their organ donation decision on the organ donation register. If your family know what you want to happen when you die, they are much more likely to honour that decision and make organ donation a possibility.”

The annual report shows deceased organ donation in the UK increased by 2% last year thanks to the continuing recovery of organ donation and transplant activity following the Covid-19 pandemic. In total, 1,429 people donated their organs after death last year, including 12 at Watford General Hospital.

Despite this, the number of people being listed for a transplant has increased, due to most being suspended during the height of the pandemic. There are more than 7,000 people on the active waiting list and a further 3,822 temporarily suspended.

Anthony Clarkson, director of organ and tissue donation and transplantation, at NHS Blood and Transplant, says: “Over 50,000 people are alive in the UK today thanks to the life-saving gift of organ donation. But this wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our incredible donors and their families who have given their support for donation at what is often the most difficult of times.

“We know that most people support organ donation in principle, and we have seen a steady increase in the number of people confirming their support for organ donation via the NHS Organ Donor Register. However, we still need families to support their loved one’s decision and agree to donation when approached, which we know is most likely when they know that’s what they wanted.

“We urge everyone who supports organ donation to confirm their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. It is a simple action which only takes two minutes; but can ultimately save lives.”

Find out more and register your decision by visiting NHS Organ Donor Register at www.organdonation.nhs.uk and share your decision with your family.

Ends

  1. To find out more about organ donation, the law change, or to opt in or out, visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call the dedicated advice line on 0300 303 2094.
  2. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority. Its remit includes the provision of a reliable, efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS in England. It is also the organ donor organisation for the whole of the UK and is responsible for matching and allocating donated organs.
  3. For media enquiries, please contact the communications team on: 01923 436280 or email: westherts.communications@nhs.net. For out of hours media enquiries please call the Watford General Hospital switchboard on 01923 244366 and ask for the on call communications manager.
  4. West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves people from across Hertfordshire, north London and further afield. It operates from three hospitals; Watford General, St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead. The trust has a catchment area of over 500,000 people and is one of the largest employers locally, with around 5,000 staff and volunteers.
  5. For more information about our hospitals, visit www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk. You can also join our followers on Twitter (twitter.com/westhertsNHS) and find us on Facebook (facebook.com/westhertsNHS).