MP says North West should be doing better with organ donations

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WARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones has suggested that the North West can do a lot better after she saw the ‘Organ Donation Report Card : North West’ which has been published by Transplant2013 – a coalition of patients, clinicians and industry representing the ‘organ donation community’.
The North West performs poorly compared to the rest of the UK across all indicators of donation after circulatory death, in addition to registration on the NHS Organ Donor Register. There has also been a significant decrease in the rate of consent to organ donation, both after brain death and after circulatory death.
Transplantation is life changing and life saving. Since the Organ Donation Taskforce published its ‘Organs for transplant’ report in 2008, there has been a 63% increase in the rate of organ donation and a 47% increase in transplantation rates resulting in over 4,500 lives being saved or improved last year.
Ms Jones said: “The increase in organ donation and transplantation rates is great news but we can do much better, particularly in the North West. There are over 7,000 people on the organ transplant list and, sadly, every year around 1,200 people die whilst on the waiting list or become too unwell to receive a transplant.
“ Currently there are over 800 people on the active waiting list for an organ transplant.
“I believe we need to continue to try to change attitudes – over a third of families in the UK refuse to allow their relative’s organs to be used often overriding the expressed wishes of loved ones.
“If we can increase the numbers by a few percent it will make a huge difference. People who want to register can do so by signing the NHS Organ Donor Register online at www.organdonation.nhs.uk
“Let’s ensure the next report card is at least in line with the UK average, and if possible equal to the UK best. “


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Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.

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