YEOVIL NEWS: Get involved with Organ Donation Week

YEOVIL District Hospital is inviting the public to get involved with Organ Donation Week with a social media campaign focussing on asking people to consider registering as a donor and sharing their wishes via Twitter.

Taking place between Monday, September 5, 2016, and Sunday (September 11, 2016) the “Let’s Talk” initiative is hoping to increase registration but also to encourage conversations among friends and family so those around you know your wishes.

Data shows that 82 per cent of the population definitely want to donate or would consider donating their organs, but only 50 per cent have talked about it with their families.

Medical director at Yeovil Hospital, Dr Tim Scull, said: “This campaign week provides an opportunity for us to highlighting the importance of organ donation and celebrating those who have saved lives.

“Losing someone close to you is always a highly emotional time so it is really important we have these conversations in our everyday life, removing that element of doubt from those making the final decision on your behalf.”

PHOTO – TOP: Theatre staff support Organ Donation Week at Yeovil District Hospital.

PHOTO – RIGHT: Medical director at Yeovil Hospital, Dr Tim Scull.

On average three people die every day in need of a transplant because there are not enough organs available. One donor can save or transform up to nine lives and there are currently around 7,000 people in the UK on the active waiting list - including around 200 children.

Through the campaign, Yeovil Hospital is asking Twitter users to take two minutes to register on the website www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-to-donate/register-your-details/ before tweeting a selfie or message letting everyone know with the hashtag #YesIDonate @YeovilHospital .

Sally Johnson, director of Organ Donation and Transplantation, said: “We hope people across the UK will get behind the week and the opportunity it presents to focus people’s attention on organ donation.

“People waiting for transplants depend on people being willing to donate their organs and sadly on average three people die every day across the UK due to a shortage of donated organs.”

For more information, come along to Yeovil Hospital’s Canteen Restaurant on Wednesday (September 7, 2016) or Yeovil Hospital’s annual meeting on Thursday (September 8, 2016) where you can drop in anytime between 2.30pm and 5.30pm at The Manor Hotel, Yeovil.

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