Local MP James Duddridge Member of Parliament for Rochford and Southend East Supports Appeal for families in Rochford and Southend East to have a lifesaving talk during Organ Donation Week
James Duddridge who is on the organ donor list is proudly supporting Organ Donation Week and an appeal for his constituents to talk about organ donation.
Earlier this week, James Duddridge MP for Rochford and Southend East attended Blood and Transplant Parliamentary to mark Organ Donation Week.
There are currently 35683 people in Rochford and Southend East who are on the NHS Organ Donor Register but Hundreds of lifesaving transplants are being missed around the country every year because families don’t know what their relative wanted.
During the week, NHS Blood and Transplant, hospitals, charities and supporters of organ donation are encouraging people across the UK to talk about organ donation with their relatives and friends.
James Said:
“I’m proud to support this lifesaving appeal and it’s really easy for everyone to take part – just have a chat. If you want to be a donor, your family’s agreement is still needed for donation to go ahead, even if you are on the NHS Organ Donor Register.”
Families who agree to donate say it helps with their grief and that they feel enormous sense of pride at knowing their relative gave others the chance of a new beginning.
Fiona Loud, Policy Director of Kidney Care UK, commented:
“At least one person dies every single day whilst waiting for a kidney transplant and of the 5 people on the waiting list in Rochford and Southend East, around 90% of them are waiting for a kidney. You are more likely to need a transplant than to be a donor so please, this Organ Donation Week, just take a few minutes to have a think about what you would do if you needed a transplant, and have that life-saving chat with your family so they know your wishes.”
Anthony Clarkson, Assistant Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said:
“We are really grateful for James Duddridge’s support because hundreds of lives are being lost every year. This Organ Donation Week, tell your family you want to save lives. A few words now can make an extraordinary difference.
“If you are unsure about donation, please ask yourselves as a family; what would you do if one of you needed a transplant? Would you accept a life-saving organ? If you’d take an organ, shouldn’t you be prepared to donate?”
There is a particular need for more black and Asian people to talk about donation. Patients from ethnic minority communities make up 29% of the national transplant waiting list but people from these communities are less likely to agree to donate. Organs from people from the same ethnic background are more likely to be a close match and give the best chance of a positive outcome.
