AS CHRISTMAS approaches NHS Blood and Transplant is calling on families in West Yorkshire to talk about organ donation and register their decision to help save lives.

With some families hoping to get together for Christmas for the first time since the pandemic began, the service is urging people to take a moment during the celebrations to talk about their organ donation decision and to leave their family members certain of what they want to happen.

There are currently 231 patients awaiting the life-saving gift of an organ transplant in West Yorkshire and many of their lives could be saved or significantly improved if a donor is found. Yet every day across the UK someone dies in need of an organ transplant.

Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation at NHSBT, said: "Wherever and however people in West Yorkshire plan to spend this Christmas, we hope that everyone will be able to enjoy the festivities and spend some much needed time with family and friends.

“For many thousands of people across the country, including 132 people in West Yorkshire who have had transplants this year, the only reason that they are able to enjoy a happy and healthy Christmas is thanks to the generosity of a donor and their family who so selflessly chose to give the gift of life. However, there are still thousands of people who are still desperately hoping and waiting for the transplant that will transform their life.

“Please take a moment this Christmas to let your family know your organ donation decision. Those conversations could help save the lives of people currently spending their Christmas waiting for a transplant.”

Even though the law around organ donation has now moved to an opt out system across England, Wales, and Scotland, many are still not aware that families will still always be consulted before organ donation goes ahead.

While families are more likely, and find it easier, to support donation when they already know it is what their loved one wanted, only 42% of the UK population have registered their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register and just 37% say that they have shared their organ donation decision with their family.

Giles McVicar, aged 49, from Wakefield, has had two heart transplants and is now waiting for a kidney transplant. He says “This will be my third Christmas on dialysis and waiting for a new kidney. I’ve felt grotty on the past ones so I’m hoping all will be ok this year. It’s always a reminder of where you are health wise and makes you look forward to a new year with hopefully a suitable donor being found.

“I plan to go to my sisters and brother in laws this year with my 2 boys. My parents and brother and his family will also be going so there should be lots of laughs and good food. My wish is really to feel well over Christmas and enjoy it with my family. My hopes for 2022 have to be to receive a donor kidney. I’m pretty desperate to live a life of very good health, a life of good fitness and to be my proper myself again instead of living in a survival mode.

“What a powerful gift it must be to save someone’s life, it’s the ultimate gift we can give and if I was in a position to receive a kidney then I don’t think any words would be able to explain how grateful and happy I’d be.”

Anthony Clarkson adds, “We know that for many thousands of people across the UK, including 231 people in West Yorkshire, the greatest gift they could receive this year will be a phone call telling them that a donor has been found for them. Please let your family know your organ donation decision and leave them certain of your decision”.

For more information, or to register your organ donation decision, visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23. NHS app users can also use the service to record, check or update their organ donation decision.