Leave no doubt – share your donation decision today

As Organ and Tissue Donation Week gets underway (20-26 September), islanders are being encouraged to leave no doubt about their donation decision.

New figures released to coincide with Organ and Tissue Donation Week reveal almost half (45.7 per cent) of people in the NHS Western Isles area have now registered their donation decision.

As the Week marks the six-month anniversary of Scotland’s move to an opt out system of organ and tissue donation, figures show 42.7 per cent of people in the Western Isles have recorded a decision to be a donor, with 3.0 per cent choosing to opt out.

Everyone has a choice under Scotland’s opt out system of organ and tissue donation – to be a donor or opt out of donation. But whatever you decide, it’s important to make it known.

If people haven’t recorded a decision about donation, then it will be assumed they have agreed to donate certain organs and tissue for transplantation, unless they are in a group for whom the law doesn’t apply.

People can record their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register at any time, but it’s also important to discuss that donation decision with family and friends.

Families are always involved in the donation process, and leaving them with no doubt about your wishes can make it easier to ensure your decision is honoured.

Lewis-born Margaret Meiklejohn, who received a liver transplant in 2020, has spoken of her hope that people have that important conversation.

Diagnosed with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Liver Disease (ADPLD), Margaret paid tribute to her donor saying she feels “incredibly bound” to her donor’s family and intends “to make the most of the gift” she’s been given and how it will enable her to catch up on all the years that both she and her family have missed out on.

Dr. Frank McAuley, NHS Western Isles Board Medical Director, said, “Although being a remote and rural local has unique challenges, collaborating with the Organ and Tissue Donation Team we can support participation of all Western Isles residents in this life changing work.

“It’s encouraging to see the number of people in the area who have recorded their donation decision.  Organ and tissue donation remains a personal choice, but it’s important to make your decision known.

“You can record your decision at any time on the NHS Organ Donor Register.  Sharing that decision with family is also important, as having that knowledge can make it easier for them to honour it.”

Continuing with her recovery and in good health, Margaret said “I know nothing about my donor and yet her family were brave enough, even whilst grieving, to honour her wishes and give me and possibly many others a second chance at life.  I feel so grateful and very honoured.”

Leave no doubt and help make this Week count – share your donation decision today. Find out more and register your donation decision at organdonationscotland.org or call 0300 123 23 23.

Note.

The opt out system was introduced on 26 March 2021 to save and improve lives, meaning that if people aged 16 and over haven’t opted out of donation, they will be considered a possible donor if they die in circumstances in which they could donate.

NHS Organ Donor Register statistics supplied by NHS Blood and Transplant. Figures quoted are as of 06 September 2021.