12/10/2004

Awareness campaign leads to rise in transplant ops

Last year saw a 3% increase in the number of transplant operations that took place in the UK in 2002, according to the health department.

A new report, 'Saving Lives, Valuing Donors: One Year On', said that the rise in operations – which topped 2,867 this year – could be put down to more investment in publicity campaigns and hospital-based initiatives aimed at encouraging more people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register.

UK Transplant spent £3.6 million on raising the profile of organ donation and this has led to the highest number of organ transplants ever recorded being carried out in 2003/04, the report said.

However, despite this progress, there is still a shortage of organs available and nearly 6,000 people are currently on the national list for a kidney transplant.

The launch of the progress report coincides with the tenth anniversary of the NHS Organ Donor Register. Around 11.6 million people are on the Organ Donor Register and UK Transplant aims to add 1 million more people to the register during the forthcoming year. The government has pledged to increase the number to 16 million by 2010.

Celebrating the success of organ transplantation and its benefits with transplant patients and the Prime Minister at Downing Street, health minister Rosie Winterton said: "Thanks to the generosity of donors and their families, the dedication of staff in the NHS, the voluntary sector and UK Transplant coupled with continuing investment, 2003/ 04 has been a record year."

She went on to urge people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register and to tell their family and friends that they would like to help others to live after their death.

(gmcg/mb)

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