Publication of 1st Annual Report – Organ Donation Programme Delivery Board

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey has today welcomed a 7% increase in the number of people across the UK signing up to the Organ Donor Register.

The increase has been announced in the publication of the first annual report of the Organ Donation Programme Delivery Board (PDB).

Since the implementation work began in June last year the UK has seen a 7% increase in people signing on to the Organ Donor Register. This is now at 27% of the population (16,329,316 people); a record rise in organ donor rates - 11% increase in deceased organ donor rates (nearly 100 extra donors); and a record rise in living donation rates – 11% increase (92 extra donors).

The Minister said: “While the results to date are extremely encouraging we still have much to do to achieve the stated target of a 50% increase in donation rates. In Northern Ireland the most recent figures show that 26.7% of our population is on the Organ Donor Register; this is wonderful but it still leaves almost three quarters of the population who have not joined.

“The health service is working hard to improve rates of donation but they can only achieve this with the commitment and generosity of the population. I would urge all those who have not already done so to discuss donation with friends and family and make the decision to join the Organ Donor Register.”

Other highlights from the annual report include:

• 3,513 organ transplants were carried out across the UK, thanks to the generosity of 1,854 donors;
• 977 lives were saved through a heart, lung, liver or combined transplant;
• 2,536 patients received a kidney, pancreas or combined transplant; and
• 2,711 people had their sight restored through a cornea transplant.

Notes to Editors:

1. In 2006, Ministers established an Organ Donation Taskforce to consider options for improvement of organ donation rates. On 16 January 2008 the Taskforce published a report of its findings which were accepted by Ministers from all four Health Administrations.

2. A Programme Delivery Board (PDB) was instituted to oversee the implementation of the recommendations and, one year into this process, the results are positive.

3. The recommendations of the Taskforce addressed obstacles to organ donation throughout the whole of the UK, aiming to increase donor rates by at least 50% by 2013 and see 20 million people signed up to the Organ Donation Register by 2010, working towards 25 million by 2013.

4. In Northern Ireland over 230 people are currently waiting for organs and, over the last 4 years, between 13 and 20 have died each year while waiting. In 2008/09 157 NI residents received a transplant.

5. For further information, please contact the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 2841 or Dr Janet Little, Chair of the local implementation group on 028 90321313 x2422. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.