What's Happening?
The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging individuals to register their organ donation decisions and communicate them with family members. This call to action follows the release of statistics by NHS Blood and Transplant, revealing that over 12,000 people in the UK have died waiting for transplants in the past decade. The data highlights the urgent need for increased organ donation, with 4,900 deaths occurring while individuals were on the active waiting list, including 44 in Northern Ireland.
Why It's Important?
The high number of deaths due to organ shortages underscores the critical need for more registered donors. Increasing organ donation can save lives and reduce the emotional and financial burden on families and healthcare systems. The PHA's campaign aims to raise awareness and encourage more people to consider organ donation, potentially leading to a significant increase in available organs for transplant and improved survival rates for those on waiting lists.
