As Organ and Tissue Donation Week gets underway, people across Fife are being encouraged to register their donation decision and make it known to those closest to them.
Research has shown that 9 out of 10 families will support organ and tissue donation if their loved one had confirmed their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. Over half of the population of Fife have already registered their donation decision and opted in to donation.
Under Scotland's opt out system of organ and tissue donation, people have a choice to be a donor or to opt out. If people aged 16 and over choose to do nothing, it may be assumed they agree to be a donor if they die in circumstances where donation is possible, unless they are in a group for whom the opt out system does not apply.
Since its formation in 1994, the NHS Organ Donor Register has been helping save lives of people across the UK through the gift of organ and tissue donation. With a greater number of people waiting for a transplant than ever before, it’s never been more important to make a decision about organ and tissue donation, record it on the NHS Organ Donor Register and tell those closest to you.
NHS Fife will also be lighting up Lynebank and Queen Margaret Hospitals in Dunfermline and the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy with the pink Organ Donation logo to raise awareness of the importance of making donation decisions known.
Nicola Robertson, Director of Nursing (Corporate) and Chair of NHS Fife’s Organ and Tissue Donation Committee, said:
“The NHS Organ Donor Register has been saving and transforming lives for 30 years through the gift of organ and tissue donation. We’re encouraging everyone to think about organ and tissue donation this week and record that decision, whatever it may be, on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
“Only around one per cent of people die in a way that makes organ donation possible, which means every opportunity for donation is precious. Help make this Week count, and don’t leave your loved ones in doubt.”
To register your donation decision, or to find out more, visit: www.organdonation.scot or call 0300 123 2323.
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Notes to editors:
More than 196k people in Fife have opted in to donation on the Organ Donor register, equating to around 52.5% of the eligible local population. 3.3% of Fife’s population have registered to opt out.
Audio (for radio purposes):
Alison Gray talks about her experience as a donor recipient - [DOWNLOAD]
