Families in Wiltshire and Hampshire urged to talk about organ donation
Research shows less than half of adults have had the conversation
The NHS is launching a new campaign to urge families in Wiltshire to talk about organ donation
The Leave Them Certain campaign aims to highlight the impact not knowing has on the families who are left behind and encourage people talk about their decision. It follows the law change last year in England, which means that all adults are seen as willing to donate their organs, unless they opt out or are in one of the excluded groups.
In Wiltshire, 329,663 people are currently on the NHS Organ Donor Register with 799, 532 in Hampshire.
Last year across both counties 52 became donors but the NHS needs more people to talk with their families about their decision. Many still don't realise that families will still be approached before any donation goes ahead.
HAMPSHIRE FAMILY SPEAK OUT
One person who knows the importance of having the conversation is Hampshire resident Lisa Turner.
Her mum Pauline became an organ donor not long before her 70th birthday.
Lisa said:
"_As a family we have always talked about everything, but mum would never talk about death. She would shut down if the subject ever came up and would say she didn't want anyone taking her bits. My dad, brother and sister were much more ope_n."
"However when mum had to renew her driving licence she ticked the box to be added to the NHS Organ Donor Register but didn't tell us. It was only when her donor card came though the post that she told everyone. We were all so shocked! She was so proud of herself but we still don't know what changed her mind."
"If we'd found out mum was on the register after she died and she hadn't told us, we would have thought it was a mistake and would have stopped the donation from going ahead. Having the conversation was so important and knowing what she wanted made the decision so much easier. I think everyone should have that conversation with their family. It is a hard conversation, but death is life. I can't express how important it is to talk about it."
Pauline donated her lungs, kidneys and liver and was able to help four people.
PLEA TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION
Research shows that the biggest barrier to talking about organ donation is that it's never come up in conversation with 34% of people stating this as their reason.
More than a quarter of people say they are worried it will upset their family or make them feel uncomfortable, while over a fifth don't want to talk about their own death,
Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said:
"People often tell us that they struggle to find the right time or words to talk about organ donation, unfortunately we see first-hand the impact not knowing has on families when the first time they consider their loved ones wishes around organ donation is when they are seriously ill or have already died. Talk to your friends, talk to your family. Even though the law has changed, you can still sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register to provide your family with added reassurance. Please don't wait. Have the conversation today."
STRUGGLING TO TALK ABOUT ORGAN DONATION?
The NHS has some produced some tips and guidance to help start the conversation:
- Start by checking in first; 'how are you doing?' so you can gauge whether now is a good time. Choose a time when you're not too distracted or when you're sharing a space, or time with each other, maybe over a cup of tea or out walking.
- Perhaps there is something that prompts the conversation - passing a driving test, seeing our campaign TV advert, or an article in the paper.
- Open with 'did you hear' and not your own point of view; or use a hypothetical 'how would you feel if…'
- If faith is important to you, open with talking about what you know about your faith's beliefs on giving.
- Acknowledge it's a difficult subject and that you don't have to agree.