Record number of transplant operations but more donors needed, UK

Main Category: Transplants / Organ Donations
Article Date: 13 Oct 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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More investment in publicity campaigns and hospital-based initiatives aimed at encouraging more people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register or agree to donation has led to the highest number of organ transplants ever recorded being carried out in 2003/04, according to a new report published today.

UK Transplant spent £3.6m on raising the profile of organ donation with a view to increasing transplantation rates, resulting in 2, 867 transplants being carried out. This represents a 3 per cent increase on the previous year.

Saving Lives, Valuing Donors: One Year On details the progress made by the Department of Health and UK Transplant in meeting the commitments published in Saving Lives, Valuing Donors - A Transplant Framework for England in July last year.

Celebrating the success of organ transplantation and its benefits with transplant patients and the Prime Minister at Downing Street, Rosie Winterton said:

"Thanks to the generosity of donors and their families, the dedication of staff in the NHS, the voluntary sector and UK Transplant coupled with continuing investment, 2003/ 04 has been a record year.

"There is still a shortage of organs available and nearly 6,000 people are currently on the national list for a kidney transplant. I would therefore 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."

The launch of the progress report coincides with the tenth anniversary of the NHS Organ Donor Register. 11.6m people are on the Organ Donor Register and UK Transplant aims to add 1m more people to the register during the forthcoming year. The Government has pledged to increase the number to 16m by 2010.

Related links

UK Transplant

Saving lives, valuing donors: A transplant framework for England - One year on

Notes to editor

1. Copies of the report are available on the Department of Health website.

2. People can join the NHS Organ Donor Register by calling the Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400 or online at the UK Transplant website

3. UK Transplant is a Special Health Authority within the NHS with a UK-wide remit. It's key role is to ensure that donated organs are matched and allocated in a fair and unbiased way.

4. Media enquiries only to the Department of Health Media Centre on 020 7210 5329 or 5724. For all other queries, please contact the Department of Health public enquiry line on 020 7210 4850 or email dhmail@doh.gsi.gov.uk.

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