Support World Kidney Day and Sign the NHS Organ Donor Register

Support World Kidney Day and Sign the NHS Organ Donor Register

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is highlighting World Kidney Day (Thursday 8 March 201) by calling for more people in Northern Ireland to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor register.

World Kidney Day (WKD) was first established in 2006 to raise awareness about the importance of our kidneys in relation to our overall health, while also seeking to reduce the impact of kidney disease worldwide.

Every year an estimated 50,000 people in the UK are being treated for end stage kidney failure - 90% of those on the transplant waiting list are waiting for a new kidney and sadly there are still not enough organs available.

Dr Eddie Rooney, Chief Executive, PHA and Chair of the Northern Ireland Organ Donation Task Force Implementation Group, said: “The PHA is appealing for everyone who has not yet signed up to the NHS Organ Donor Register to please do so today to mark World Kidney Day. I cannot express enough the importance of registration. Kidney transplants have an extremely high success rate with 94% of kidneys in living donor transplants still functioning well and 88% of kidneys from people who have died also still functioning well.”

Since 1968 there have been over 1,500 transplant operations carried out in the Belfast City Hospital (BCH) with 72 last year alone. This success is based on increased awareness of the need for organ donors and a rise in the number of people signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Dr Rooney continued: “Although the number of successful transplants carried out in Northern Ireland is increasing, many more could be performed each year if more kidneys were available. To date there are 176 patients on the waiting list for a kidney transplant in Northern Ireland.

“We all have the opportunity to help others in need so please take the time to fill in a form online at www.organdonation.nhs.uk. Alternatively text  save to 84118 or call the NHS Donor line on 0300 123 23 23. It is important that you discuss your wishes with friends and family so that if the time ever comes, they will find it easier to carry out your wishes.  It is one of the most generous things a human being can do to help others.

Dr Aisling Courtney who is the Consultant Nephrologist from the Belfast City Hospital who co-ordinates the live transplant assessment process said, “Two-thirds of all kidney transplants in Belfast are from live donors. In this financial year we are on schedule to carry out 50 living donor transplants.  The success of the living donor programme has undoubtedly transformed the lives of the recipients and reduced the numbers of people that require regular dialysis therapy.

The PHA needs everyone to sign up to the NHS organ Donor Register today to reduce the number of people waiting for a suitable organ in Northern Ireland.

Further information

Contact the Public Health Agency on 028 90553663

Notes to the editor

You can join the NHS Organ Donor Register by:

  •          Calling the NHS Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23
  •          Logging on to www.organdonation.nhs.uk
  •          Texting SAVE to 84118

You can also join when you are:

  •          Registering for a driving licence
  •          Applying for a Boots Advantage Card
  •          Registering at a GP surgery
  •          Registering for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)