The seminar, 'Organ Donation in Northern Ireland: Making It Usual Rather Than Unusual', was organised by the Public Health Agency and is part of the implementation work resulting from the Organ Donation Taskforce report published in 2008.
Speaking from the Lagan Valley Island Centre, the Minister said: "Since the Organ Donation Taskforce 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 wonderful, but in Northern Ireland nearly three quarters of our population are yet to join, leaving much scope for improvement. It is also vitally important that our health professionals see organ donation as usual rather than unusual so no potential donors are missed.
“The current advertising campaign run by National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) makes clear the suffering undergone by those needing an organ. We all have the means to potentially do something to help after our own deaths by joining the organ donor register and making sure that our family and friends know of our decision."
Notes to editors:
- 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.
- A Programme Delivery Board (PDB) was instituted to oversee the implementation of the recommendations and, one year into this process, the results are positive.
- 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.
- 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 Northern Ireland residents received a transplant.5. On Monday 2 November, NHSBT rolled out the first UKwide multi-media organ donation campaign aimed at bridging the gap between good intentions and actions. The campaign will run until early 2010.
- For further information, please contact the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 2841 or Dr Janet Little of the local implementation group on 028 9032 1313 ext 2422. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
