AN organ donation group established by NHS Lanarkshire aims to help save the lives of people desperately waiting for transplants.
A report by the Organ Donation Taskforce recommended that health boards set up donation committees and appointed clinical leads for organ donation.
Jim Ruddy, consultant in intensive care medicine and anaesthesia from Monklands Hospital has now been appointed as clinical lead for NHS Lanarkshire organ donation committee.
In addition, Susan Hannah has been appointed as donor transplant coordinator and the committee will also consist of further staff representatives, a member of the trust board of governors and members of the public.
Susan said: “The donation committee will raise the profile of organ and tissue donation within all three of Lanarkshire’s acute hospitals and is committed to ensuring that patient’s end of life choice is respected.
“Our ambition is to achieve 100 per cent identification and referral rate - not just in the intensive care units but in the emergency departments and the wards as well, ensuring that organ and tissue donation becomes a routine part of end of life care.”
More than 8000 people in the UK are at this moment desperately waiting for a life saving organ transplant.
Susan continued: “Transplants are one of the most miraculous achievements of modern medicine.
“However, they depend entirely on the generosity of donors and their families who are
willing to make this life-saving gift.
“Each year nearly 1000 people die while waiting for a donated organ and others lose
their life before they are registered for a transplant.
“One person donating their organs after death can give the gift of life up to nine people.”
To sign up to the Organ Donor Register visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.