Torbay Hospital supports National Transplant Week 2012

Torbay Hospital is urging the public to 'pass on' their donation wishes to loved ones during the annual, UK-wide, awareness week which runs from 9th to 15th July.

National Transplant Week aims to increase understanding of organ donation and encourage more people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Three people die every day whilst they wait for organs in the UK and just 30 per cent of the UK population is currently signed up to the NHS Organ Donor Register. Despite the thousands of life-saving transplant operations which take place every year, some 7,500 people are on the waiting list for a transplant in the UK.

Torbay Hospital is running a staff art competition based on the awareness week’s ‘Pass it On’ theme with entries being exhibited in the Hospital’s Bay View Restaurant. The winners will be announced on Friday 13th July.

In addition, the Hospital Library is displaying selected books, DVDs and leaflets and signposting relevant websites to support National Transplant Week.

The Hospital is also supporting the launch of a charity single which tells the story of local child Lottie (aka Chip), the smallest and youngest baby in the world to have survived a liver transplant. The single was launched on 7th July, in celebration of Lottie’s first birthday and just in time for National Transplant Week. The song was the brain child of Tina Hawker and is written and performed by Nick Tilley. It is being used to raise awareness of a national shortage of organ donors and also to raise money for four key charities to help parents or families of other children like Lottie.

Camilla Notley, NHSBT's Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation based at Torbay Hospital, commented: "We are delighted to be supporting National Transplant Week 2012, and we hope the week encourages more people to become donors and 'pass it on' to loved ones."

"If you join the Organ Donation Register, please tell the people closest to you. Otherwise, your wishes may come as a surprise at a time when they are trying to deal with their loss. This could affect their decision to proceed with a life-saving donation. To add your name to the register please call 0300 123 2323, text JOIN to 84880 or visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk."

Sally Johnson, NHSBT’s Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation, added: "We hope that this year’s National Transplant Week will encourage sign up to the ODR, and encourage donors to talk to their family and friends about their donation wishes."

Don’t forget to keep watching out on www.facebook.com/organdonationuk and follow us on twitter @NHSBT for more information about the 'Organ Donation Through A Lens' competition and this year’s National Transplant Week.