Forgotten forms could be lifesavers

Main Category: Transplants / Organ Donations
Article Date: 26 Jul 2004 - 11:00 PDT


Forgotten forms, tucked away at the back of drawers, in letter racks or behind the clock in homes across the UK (or in any country), could be lifesavers.

Millions of organ donor registration forms have been distributed over the last nine years, giving people the opportunity to leave a legacy of life for others by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR).

But, although the form can be completed in minutes, many people take weeks, months or even years to get round to doing it.

Pensioner Julia Ridgway, from Leicester, UK, kept her registration form for nine years before filling it in.

The form was posted through her letterbox in 1995 but although she meant to return it straight away, she never got round to it - until she found the leaflet when moving house.

Julia, aged 65, who was injured in a car crash shortly before the move to her new home, explained: "It made me realise how things can happen unexpectedly.

"Who knows, I could have another accident at any time. I would like to be able to help someone else after my death."

Angie Burton, campaigns and marketing manager at NHS UK Transplant, said: "We are constantly amazed at how long some of these forms have been kept before they are eventually completed and sent back.

"People obviously intend to fill them in because they have not thrown the form away and we would like to thank them.

"For anyone else who may be thinking about signing up, what better time to do it than this week, which is National Transplant Week?" (18-24 July)

While opinion polls show that 90% of people in the UK support organ donation in principle, only 19% have got round to registering their wishes on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Psychotherapist Christine Webber reckons the reason some people take so long to get round to it is that they simply hate form filling, or are just too busy or too disorganised.

"Although they always mean to register, they find it hard to overcome their dislike of forms," said Christine.

"Others feel their lives are too crammed with things that have to be done to find time for things they feel are less urgent."

Moving home and discovering the form, a wedding, birth of a child or grandchild or other special family event, can all act as a trigger, according to Christine.

"Often a news story about a child who will die unless a suitable organ is found can prompt us to register - knowing that one day the gift of our organs could make the difference between life and death for someone else."

Ten-year-old Aiden Miles' need for a kidney transplant prompted his dad, warehouse manager Gary Miles, to register.

"Joining the register was something I'd always intended to do but I'd never got round to it until Aiden fell ill," said Gary who lives at Northleach, near Cheltenham.

"All of a sudden, signing up and making sure people knew my wishes, took on a new importance."

Aiden received a new kidney in October 2002 - a legacy of life donated by an 18-year-old man who died in a road accident.

Gary added: "Our heartfelt thanks go to Aiden's donor and their family. Their kindness has made such a difference to our lives."

You can join the NHS Organ Donor Register by telephoning the Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400 or by visiting http://www.uktransplant.org.uk .

For further information contact UK Transplant press office on(UK) 0117 975 7470 or 975 7475.

For more information about National Transplant Week, contact Sue Johnstone of TIME (Transplants in Mind) on (UK) 07702 853189.

Notes to Editors:

-- There are currently around 7,000 people in the UK who need a transplant but less than 3,000 transplants can be carried out each year because not enough organs are donated.

-- Transplants save and transform lives and bereaved families gain comfort knowing that their loss has helped someone else to live.

-- More than 11.4 million people have joined the register. The Government has pledged to increase the number to 16 million by 2010.

Supporting material

Psychotherapist and broadcaster, Christine Webber, gives some answers as to why people put off filling in forms.

"I hate filling in forms" : many people dislike filling in forms while others feel that there are far too many forms to fill in already. Others find it hard to overcome their dislike of forms even though they want to do something like joining the Organ Donor Register. And some just don't get round to it because they find form filling off-putting.

"I'm too busy" : plenty of individuals in our "time-poor" society find they have little enough time for leisure, family or friends. Life just seems too crammed with things that have to be done, to find time for those things that feel less urgent. Unfortunately, none of us knows how urgent making a decision to donate one's organs is because none of us knows how long we're likely to live.

"I'm just too chaotic": some people are very disorganised. They never know where things are. Vital papers are often mislaid; they often lose bills before they are paid and can never seem to find their passports when they're going abroad. Small wonder that they never seem to get around to joining the ODR.

What else is likely to prompt us to join the ODR?

-- Realisation that carrying a donor card is not enough

-- Seeing a news story about a child needing a life-saving transplant

-- A special event in your own family

-- Clearing up your parent's home

-- Children bringing information home from a school project

-- Drawing up a will

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