New figures show there were 41 patients who donated their organs after death at Addenbrooke’s last year - the third highest at any UK hospital and saving or improving the lives of those in desperate need of a transplant.
NHS Blood and Transplant and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) released the figures to mark publication of the annual Organ Donation and Transplantation Activity Report.
It shows that nationally 1,397 people donated organs after their death last year – an increase on the previous year which was affected by Covid. It transformed the lives of 4,324 patients.
But despite the improvement, there are still 6,393 people on the waiting list, including nearly 4,000 who had transplants suspended because of the pandemic.
Organ donation and transplant at Addenbrooke’s is a huge team effort involving experts in organ retrieval, transplant, critical care, specialist nurses, transplant coordinators, theatres, and the National Organ Retrieval Service (NORS).
There are two clinical leads for organ donation at Addenbrooke’s, Dr Riaz Kayani and Dr Andrea Lavinio, and technologies are constantly being developed so more organs can be transplanted, such perfusion machines that can check and preserve livers.
Dr Kayani said it’s really important that donors discuss their decision with loved ones and record it on the Organ Donor Register, since in the event of death families will always be involved before donation takes place.
He added:
Organ donation can offer comfort to the families of donors through the knowledge that something remarkable comes from their loss - the transformation of another’s life.
Dr Riaz Kayani
Specialist nurse for organ donation, Claire Murphy, added: “We fully understand how important it is for families to make a decision in a way that honours their faith, beliefs and values, and we aim to identify and meet these needs as part of end of life care.
As another year passes we would like to pass on our thanks to our courageous families - and to the donors, who give the biggest gift of all.
Specialist nurse, Claire Murphy
Director of organ and tissue donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, Anthony Clarkson, added: “Organ donation and transplantation is a fundamental part of the NHS work to save lives. This is shown by the increase in the number of patients this year receiving transplants and the number of those who are continually registering their decision to be an organ donor.”
Find out more and register your decision by visiting NHS Organ Donor Register at www.organdonation.nhs.uk (opens in a new tab).