Northern Trust supports Organ Donation Week in Causeway area

The Campaign, being run by the Public Health Agency, is using the strapline ‘Turn an end into a beginning’ and aims to raise awareness of the issue of organ donation in Northern Ireland.

Recent figures indicate that 38% of people in Northern Ireland have signed the Organ Donation Register. This includes 39,561 people in the Causeway Coast and Glens District Council area which is 28% of the council population.

Mary McAfee, Organ Donation Specialist Nurse with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, said: “We are urging people in the Causeway Coast and Glens area to have the conversation with your loved ones. The number of people on the ODR in this area sits below the Northern Ireland average so we know that more can be done. Evidence shows that consent rates increase where families have discussed organ donation wishes. It’s so important that people sign the register, have the conversation and ultimately more people’s lives are saved as a result.”

There is a real shortage of organs in Northern Ireland. At the end of June 159 people in Northern Ireland were waiting on a transplant. The majority of people are waiting for a kidney or liver transplant but there are also people waiting for heart, lung and pancreas transplants. Every year around 15 people in Northern Ireland die waiting for an organ transplant.

Mary continued: “One person can save the lives of up to nine people through organ donation. If you want to become an organ donor it’s important to tell your loved one’s so that they can support your decision. I would urge people this Organ Donation Week to Turn an end into a beginning.”

To support the campaign an organ donation website has been established providing all the necessary information and the link to sign up to the Organ Donation Register. Anyone interested should visit www.organdonationni.info.

For further information please contact: Claire Scullion on 028 2563 3762. Out-of-hours number 07917 889405. For more information on our services visit our website on www.northerntrust.hscni.net or visit the Northern Trust Facebook page.