The gift of life
What was the best gift you have received? An X-Box? A ring? Or concert tickets to see your favourite band?
For some people, the best gift they have ever received was the GIFT OF LIFE.
Organ donation saves lives. It is often the best and sometimes the only treatment available for those who suffer disease or failure of a major organ.
Many patients both young and old receive life-changing transplants each year. The gift however is dependent on the generosity of donors and their families who are willing to consider donation of organs and tissues.
96% of the population of the UK say they would accept an organ if they needed one. Yet only 30% of the population are on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
Currently in the UK there are around 10,000 people who need an organ transplant and around 1,000 people die each year whilst waiting on this list for an organ to become available. This sadly means that on average three people die each day. People who require a transplant may wait for years before they receive a suitably matched organ.
Our goal is to ensure that every patient who dies in the care of QE Gateshead is considered for solid organ, corneal and tissue donation.
One organ donor can save or transform up to nine lives. A tissue donor can help many more people as well. It’s only through the generosity and bravery of individuals and their bereaved families agreeing to donate organ the organs of loved ones that lives can be saved.