A RENEWED call has been made for people to get on the organ donation register after it was revealed there are more than 100 patients in Berkshire waiting for a donor to come forward.
NHS Blood and Transplant said there has been a 5% increase in the number of people whose lives had been saved or improved through such an operation, but there were fewer transplants in Berkshire compared to the previous year.
The annual Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Activity Report shows that across the UK, 4,532 patients received donated organs from 2,386 donors, but in Berkshire, there were 57 patients compared to 62 in 2021/22.
There are currently 106 patients from Berkshire on the waiting list.
Clinicians warn that opportunities for transplant are still being missed due to families declining to support donation.
People in Berkshire are being urged to confirm their organ donation decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
Anthony Clarkson, director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “More than 50,000 people are alive in the UK today thanks to the life-saving gift of organ donation, and 45 patients received a deceased transplant in Berkshire last year. This wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our incredible donors and their families who have given their support for donation at what is often the most difficult of times.”
He said there were 363,525 people in Berkshire on the register, but more were needed.
“With only one per cent of people dying in circumstances where organ donation is possible, every donor is precious and has the potential to save up to nine lives,” he continued.
“We urge everyone who supports organ donation to confirm their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. It is a simple action which only takes two minutes; but can ultimately save lives.”
To find out more, or to sign up, log on to: www.organdonation.nhs.uk, call 0300 123 23 23 or use the NHS app.
