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82 fileThis leaflet has been jointly produced by NHS Blood and Transplant and the Dying Matters Coalition. Dying Matters aims to raise awareness about the importance of talking more

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Page 1: 82 fileThis leaflet has been jointly produced by NHS Blood and Transplant and the Dying Matters Coalition. Dying Matters aims to raise awareness about the importance of talking more

To find out more visit: www.dyingmatters.orgor call freephone 08000 21 44 66The Dying Matters Coalition is led by the National Council for Palliative Care, the umbrella charity for palliative, end of life and hospice care in England, Wales & Northern Ireland.www.ncpc.org.uk

Registered Charity no.1005671

This leaflet has been jointly produced by NHS Blood and Transplant and the Dying Matters Coalition. Dying Matters aims to raise awareness about the importance of talking more openly about dying, death and bereavement and making your wishes known.

Organ donation: have you made your decision known?

About the Dying Matters Coalition

I was 46 when, on a lovely June afternoon, my life changed overnight. I was playing football with the local junior school children who I was helping to train. I suddenly felt dizzy and next thing I knew, the paramedics were taking me to hospital.

It turned out that I had dilated cardiomyopathy – in other words, my heart was wearing out. My condition deteriorated. I was in constant pain, housebound, with little pleasure left in life. Two years later I was told that I had a one year life expectancy.

The only remaining option was a heart transplant, which wasn’t guaranteed. Eleven months into my one year life-expectancy, I received a call saying that a matching donor heart may have been found. Although I’d been warned of possible false alarms and complications, ten hours later I was on the road to recovery in intensive care. I’ve gone from strength to strength, recently completing a 10k run and learning to ski.

I’ve since learned that the organ donor was 55 when he suddenly collapsed whilst getting out of bed one morning. He died shortly afterwards of a brain haemorrhage. His family didn’t hesitate to allow his organs to be used for transplantation to help others, knowing that this was his wish. Knowing that others have benefitted from his organs has helped them come to terms with his tragic and sudden death.

I am so thankful that the donor had discussed his wishes with his family before he was taken ill. There is never a day goes by when I don’t think of the person who gave me this precious gift.

Simon’s StoryDid you

know...Shared your organ donation decision yet?

Did you know...

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ds 82%

of the population defi nitely want to donate, or would consider donating, their organs – but only 50% have talked about it with their families

of families would agree to donation going ahead if they are unaware of their loved one’s decisions

31%Only

...in need of a transplant because there are not enough organs available

Onaverage

people a day die...3

ONE YEAROn average, patients from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities will wait a year longer for a kidney transplant than a white patientfor a kidney transplant than a white patientfor a kidney transplant than a white patient

OLC256P

To fi nd out more about organ donation, visit organdonation.nhs.uk

Join the Register, share your decision, save lives

Age……is not always a barrier. More people are becoming donors in their 80s!

Medical care Health professionals have a duty of care to try to save life fi rst. If, despite all their efforts the patient dies, their wish to be an organ donor may then be fufi lled.

IllnessHaving an illness or long-term condition doesn’t prevent you from registering as a donor.

Blood donationEven if you don’t or can’t give blood, you can still be a potential organ donor.

ReligionAll the major religions of the UK support the principles of organ donation and transplantation. However, within each religion there are different schools of thought which means that views may differ. All the major religions accept that organ donation is an individual choice, but consult your religious adviser or request one of our faith leafl ets if you need more information.

NBS0793 OrganD DL OLC256P.indd 1-4 28/10/2013 15:52

Page 2: 82 fileThis leaflet has been jointly produced by NHS Blood and Transplant and the Dying Matters Coalition. Dying Matters aims to raise awareness about the importance of talking more

Why it’s importantHave you considered registering as an organ donor and potentially helping someone after your death? If this is something you want to do, it’s important to talk about your decision with those close to you, and to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Did you know?• The NHS Organ Donor Register is a confidential and

secure database which records the wishes of everyone who has decided to donate organs after they die. It’s also the database which medical staff will consult to see if a person has decided to be a donor.

• If you die in circumstances where donation is possible, your next of kin could be asked to support your decision to be a donor. Letting them know what you’ve decided now makes it much easier for them.

• Every donor is precious. Fewer than 5,000 people each year in the UK die in circumstances where they can become a donor. And if their families say no to donation, someone waiting for a transplant misses out.

• You can choose to donate some or all of your organs – the choice is yours – and you can change your mind at any time.

• There is no upper age limit – everyone who is considered legally competent, irrespective of age or health, can join the NHS Organ Donor Register.

• Health professionals have a duty of care to try to save life first. If, despite all their efforts the patient dies, their wish to be an organ donor may then be fulfilled.

For more information and answers to frequently asked questions about organ donation and transplantation visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk

82%of the population defi nitely want to donate, or would consider donating, their organs – but only 50% have talked about it with their families

of families would agree to donation going ahead if they are unaware of their loved one’s decisions

31%Only

...in need of a transplant because there are not enough organs available

Onaverage

people a day die...3

ONE YEAROn average, patients from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities will wait a year longer for a kidney transplant than a white patient

Organ donation saves lives

Please complete in CAPITAL LETTERS using a black ballpoint pen. *indicates that a field must be completed.

My name and address

Surname* Forename(s)* Date of birth* / / Male * Female *Address*

Postcode*Telephone Mobile Email

My wishesI want to donate: (Please tick the boxes that apply)A. any of my organs and tissue orB. my kidneys heart liver small bowel eyes lungs pancreas tissue for transplantation after my death.

SignatureDatePlease tick here if you would like to receive future information about blood,

organ and tissue donation from NHS Blood and Transplant.

My ethnic origin There’s a better chance of getting a closer match and a successful transplant if the donor and recipient are from the same ethnic group. Please tick the ethnic group which best describes you.White: British Irish Other Mixed: White/Black Caribbean White/Asian White/Black African Other Asian or Asian British: Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi Other Black or Black British: Caribbean African Other Other ethnic categories: Chinese Other Not stated: Data Protection Assurance. Completion of this form is for the purpose of recording your wishes to become an organ donor. All information provided to NHS Blood and Transplant is used in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Your data may be handled on our behalf in a country not normally covered by EU Data Protection law. If so, we will ensure that the data will be protected by the EU requirements. More information on how we look after your personal details can be found at www.nhsbt.nhs.uk or by calling 0300 123 23 23.

If you wish to amend or withdraw your record from the NHS Organ Donor Register you can do so by calling the Organ Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23, visiting www.organdonation.nhs.uk or writing to us at the address overleaf.

2292

Please register my details on the

NHS Organ Donor RegisterHow to registerPlease help us to turn people’s good intentions about organ donation into action by registering on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Complete the registration form on the right of this leaflet and return to:

FREEPOST RRZK-SHUX-SBCK NHS Blood and Transplant Fox Den Road Stoke Gifford BRISTOL BS34 8RR

Register by phone - call 0300 123 23 23

Complete the registration form on the right and send to our freepost address.

Register online atorgandonation.nhs.uk/dm

Remember to make your decision known