County council urges people of Nottinghamshire to ‘be a hero’

A CAMPAIGN urging people to join the Organ Donor Register (ODR) is being backed by Nottinghamshire County Council.

Chief Executive Mick Burrows and Chairman Carol Pepper have led the council’s support for Nottingham University Hospital’s campaign asking people to ‘be a hero’ and join the register.

More than 10,000 people in the UK currently need a transplant. Of these, three will die each day waiting as there are not enough organs available. In Nottinghamshire more than 150 people are waiting for a transplant.

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Chief Executive Mick Burrows fully understands the importance of organ donation after his late ex-wife Sue had a liver transplant in 2000.

He said: “Sue was given a gift. Thanks to an anonymous donor, she had a very successful liver transplant which gave her ten very precious years of life with her children Sarah, Emily and Ruth who were at the time of the transplant only 18, 16 and 14 – a critical stage in their lives.”

Anyone can register on the ODR. Age is not a barrier to being an organ or tissue donor and neither are most medical conditions. People in their 70s and 80s have become donors and saved many lives.

Councillor Carol Pepper, Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “I was shocked to find out that since April last year seven people have died in Nottinghamshire while waiting for an organ transplant.

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“I am delighted to give my backing to Nottingham University Hospital’s organ donor campaign and would urge more people in Nottinghamshire to sign up and save lives.”

At Nottingham University Hospitals last year, 13 donors allowed 39 patients to benefit from 40 organs. This generosity also accounted for the 95 kidney transplants carried out at City Hospital.

Dale Gardiner, Clinical Lead for Organ Donation at NUH, said: “We would like to thank Nottinghamshire County Council for their support. By joining the Organ Donor Register you really can save lives. Join today and make sure you let your loved ones know your wishes.”

Since the launch of Nottingham University Hospital’s ‘be a hero’ campaign on 1 January the Organ Donor Register in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire has increased by an extra 2,661 people.