'Open conversation needed on organ donation', says Welsh campaigner
New statistics reveal more than 200 people lost their lives waiting for a transplant in Wales over the past decade
More than 200 people (217) have died waiting for an organ transplant in Wales over the past ten years because they didn’t receive the lifesaving organs they desperately needed in time, according to NHS Blood and Transplant.
To mark Organ Donation Week, their statistics show that 4,900 people in the whole of the UK died while actively waiting for a transplant.
338 people in Wales are waiting for a transplant:
Earlier this year, NHSBT revealed the transplant waiting list had reached its highest level ever recorded with 8,000 people actively waiting for a lifesaving transplant – 338 of those in Wales (235 in South Wales).
Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant said:
“Someone will die today waiting for an organ transplant,”
“You are more likely to need a transplant than you ever are to be a donor - and most of us would accept an organ if we needed one – but far fewer of us have made the decision to donate.
"By confirming your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register, you could save or transform up to nine lives.”
Their research also shows more than 44,000 lives have been saved or improved through deceased and living donor organ transplants in the past decade, but, they argue an open conversation is needed to get more people to join the list.
Carolyn Thomas is from Efail Isaf, her son Dan had meningitis in 2020 and will need a kidney transplant in the next few years.
She's raising awareness by organising a light-up event on Garth Hill on Friday the 26th of September.
"I think that everyone should make their wishes known"
Carolyn says:
"I think that, if you're going to be happy to accept an organ, at any stage in your life or you know if anyone from your family becomes ill and you would be happy to accept an organ, then I think that you have to be in a position where you'd be prepared to donate an organ as well.
"I think that everyone should make their wishes known and then very importantly, tell their families about what they want to happen after their death.
"I would also urge people, because there's a shortage of organs and not all organs can come from dead donors, I would also urge people to take a gentle look at the possibility of becoming a live organ donor, because it would probably be the most meaningful thing that they could do in their life."
Carolyn cannot donate her own kidney to her son, but she wants more people bring up the conversation of joining the donor list.
"It feels awful but pretty helpless.
"I think that's one of the reasons that I would like to come out and sort of really promote the issue of life donors because people can live perfectly well with one kidney.
"So it's perfectly feasible that they can go on and have a very, very good full life."
“We encourage families to talk to their loved ones about their decision"
The Welsh Government says:
“We continue to work with NHS Blood and Transplant and health boards to improve organ donation consent rates.
“We encourage families to talk to their loved ones about their decision to be a future organ donor and people can register their decision in the Organ Donor Register if they wish.”