UK Minister highlights advantages of NHS Organ Donor Register

Main Category: Transplants / Organ Donations
Article Date: 09 Nov 2004 - 12:00 PDT

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Rosie Winterton visits Boots The Chemists to celebrate a million applications to join the register through Boots Advantage Card

The importance of joining the NHS Organ Donor Register was demonstrated today, as Health Minister Rosie Winterton celebrated a million applications to join the register via the Boots Advantage card.

Recently registered Hazel Rouse, of King's Lynn, Norfolk, discussed her decision to join the register with the Minister at a commemorative event at Boots High Street Kensington store.

Hazel was prompted by a personal experience of the benefits of organ donation after her son received a kidney and pancreas transplant recently. Since the operation, he has enjoyed a clean bill of health.

Since 2000, the Boots Advantage card application form has included a tick box giving customers the opportunity to have their name placed on the UK transplant register.

To date, more than 11.75 million people have joined the NHS Organ Donor Register and the Government has pledged to increase the number to 16 million by 2010.

Rosie Winterton said:

"Organ or tissue transplants help save or dramatically improve thousands of people's lives every year. But sadly there is still a shortage of organs or tissues available and nearly 6,000 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant.

"In its tenth anniversary year, I urge people to join the NHS Organ Donor register and to tell their family and friends that they would like to help others to live after their death.

"Joining the register has never been easier and the Boots scheme is just one of several ways to join up. People are also able to join over the phone, online, by ticking the box on the DVLA and GP registration forms or by picking up an organ donation leaflet in their GP surgery."

Hazel Rouse added:

"I'm delighted to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register through the Boots Advantage Card. It's such a quick and easy way to be able to give someone the gift of life. I've seen my son's life change tremendously thanks to the generosity of a member of the donor register and I hope I can help someone in the same way one day."

Richard Baker, Boots Chief Executive said:

"Our Advantage Card was an instant hit with customers and still grows in popularity. It is a natural fit with us as healthcare providers to use our Advantage Card to help recruitment to the NHS Organ Donor Register and a million responses is a fantastic achievement. We look forward to reaching more milestones in the future."

In 2003/ 04, 15 per cent of applications to join the NHS Organ Donor Register were made through the Boots Advantage Card scheme.

Notes to editor

1. Since its establishment in 2000, the Boots Advantage card scheme has encouraged a million people to respond to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

2. Last year of the people who signed on to the NHS Organ Donor Register: 39 per cent of responses came via the DVLA; 28 per cent from GP registrations;15 per cent from Boots Advantage Card; 3 per cent from the NHS Organ Donation registration leaflet; 1 per cent from the Passports Agency; and 14 per cent from other sources.

3. Among the ways to join the NHS Organ Donor Register, to pledge to help save others after your death, are:

-- filling in the organ donor section when you register with a GP;

-- picking up an organ donor leaflet from your GP's surgery;

-- using the tick box on your driving licence application;

-- using the tick box when you apply for a Boots Advantage card;

-- calling the Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400; and

-- joining online at http://www.uktransplant.org.uk.

4. You are more likely to need a transplant than to become a donor.

5. UK Transplant is responsible for maintaining the NHS Organ Donor Register and providing a 24-hour service for the matching and allocation of donated organs. UK Transplant are aiming to get another 1 million people on the NHS Organ Donor Register during the year-long programme of activities to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the register.

6. For media enquiries only, please contact the Department of Health Media Centre on 020 7210 5329, 5724 or 4984.