Talk about organ donation as numbers of Northampton patients who died before transplant revealed

Families in Northampton are being urged to talk about organ donation after the number of patients who died before getting the transplant they need was revealed.

In the last five years, seven people in Northampton died before they received the organ donation they needed, while 23 patients are waiting for a transplant right now.

Fewer than five - NHS Blood and Transplant figures do not go lower - people in the borough posthumously donated their organs in the last 12 months.

NHS Blood and Transplant statistics published this week also showed in 2019/20, 11 people in the town got the transplant they required thanks to families agreeing to support donation.

England moved to an opt-out system in May and it is hoped public support for organ donation will continue to improve, especially with the coronavirus pandemic affecting donations.

Anthony Clarkson, from NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “It’s wonderful to see that we were, once again, on track to surpass the number of organ donors in 2019/20 than the previous year before Covid-19 hit.

"This is testament to the selfless families, including 12 families in Northamptonshire, who agreed to donate their loved one’s organs in the most tragic of circumstances.

“It is disappointing but inevitable that donation and transplantation has been impacted by the worldwide pandemic.

"What is incredible though is that throughout this crisis, we have continued to see such strong support for organ donation and the most urgent transplants have still gone ahead and saved the lives of desperately ill adults and children.

“We are, along with our fantastic NHS colleagues, focused on the continued recovery of this immensely important work, which brings comfort to grieving families and gives people another chance at life.

“As we learn to live with Covid-19 and boosted by the new law and growing public support, we hope more lives than ever before can be saved.

"I urge everyone in Northamptonshire to make their organ donation decision and tell their family about it.”

It is still your choice whether or not you want to donate your organs. Find out more and register your decision by visiting organdonation.nhs.uk.