Organ Donation Week - Oldham families urged to talk about registering

The Organ Donation Harmonies of Hope Choir - families are being urged to talk about organ donation

During Organ Donation Week (September 20-26) NHS Blood and Transplant is urging people in Oldham to talk to their families about organ donation as more than 7,000 people, including 200 children, are predicted to be in need of an organ transplant.

The hidden impact for these patients, which includes 676 people currently on the waiting list for a transplant from the North West, is being highlighted with the release of a new song from the ‘Harmonies of Hope’ children’s choir called ‘Invisible’, which you can see here

After a most challenging year for the NHS and people across the world, waiting lists for organs including kidney, heart, liver, lungs, are expected to rise and NHS Blood and Transplant is calling for more local families to talk and share their organ donation decision to increase the chances of the many children, young people and adults in need of their own life-saving call.

Last year, 301 people in the North West had their lives saved by a transplant after someone died and donated their organs.

If more people agreed to donate, more lives would be saved in the North West and around the country.

It is hoped the choir’s song will inspire people in the North West to talk about organ donation and for all members of the family, whatever their age, to help make sure more lives are saved.

Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Every day across the UK there are thousands of patients and their families, waiting for that all important life-saving call, including 676 people in the North West.

"Yet, this is often only possible as a result of another family receiving some of the hardest news they might ever have to hear.

“Even though the law around organ donation has changed to an opt out system for adults in England, Scotland and Wales, it is important that people are aware that families will still always be consulted before organ donation goes ahead.

“It is just as important as ever to make your organ donation decision known to your family and friends and leave them certain of what you what to happen in the event of your death.  

“We urge all family members of all ages in the North West to take a moment this Organ Donation Week to talk and share your decision.”

For more information, or to register your organ donation decision, please visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.

NHS app users can also use the service to record, check or update their organ donation decision.

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