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01/05/2012
NHSBT And Facebook Join Forces To Boost Organ Donation
A new collaboration to help boost the number of people on the Organ Donor Register was announced today by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and Facebook.
Facebook's new Timeline enables people to post key life events and milestones to their profile. From today, by clicking a new health and wellbeing button, this can include their intention to become an organ donor - with the added benefit of sharing that information with friends and family.
NHSBT already uses social media to engage with wide audiences and people can register to be an organ donor on NHSBT's Facebook page. The new initiative means people can log their support for organ donation on their Facebook Timeline and, if they wish, click through to NHSBT's Facebook page to officially register.
People who use Facebook will not have officially registered their wishes unless they sign-up to the ODR. But even if they don't actually register, they will still be sharing their views with friends and family which is a crucial part of organ donation. Over 30 million people in the UK use Facebook.
NHSBT's Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation, Sally Johnson, said: "We need more people to sign up to the register and share their wishes with their friends and family, our job is to make that as quick and easy as possible. This is an exciting new way to use the power of social media to reach a huge audience and encourage people to think about it, act, and share that information."
Evidence shows only 50% of those who wish to donate organs after death let their families know. Relatives who know about wishes to donate are 50% more likely to agree to donation. Each time consent is given for organ donation, this can save or improve the lives of up to nine people.
Currently around 10,000 people need a transplant in the UK and three people die every day waiting.
(CD/GK)
Facebook's new Timeline enables people to post key life events and milestones to their profile. From today, by clicking a new health and wellbeing button, this can include their intention to become an organ donor - with the added benefit of sharing that information with friends and family.
NHSBT already uses social media to engage with wide audiences and people can register to be an organ donor on NHSBT's Facebook page. The new initiative means people can log their support for organ donation on their Facebook Timeline and, if they wish, click through to NHSBT's Facebook page to officially register.
People who use Facebook will not have officially registered their wishes unless they sign-up to the ODR. But even if they don't actually register, they will still be sharing their views with friends and family which is a crucial part of organ donation. Over 30 million people in the UK use Facebook.
NHSBT's Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation, Sally Johnson, said: "We need more people to sign up to the register and share their wishes with their friends and family, our job is to make that as quick and easy as possible. This is an exciting new way to use the power of social media to reach a huge audience and encourage people to think about it, act, and share that information."
Evidence shows only 50% of those who wish to donate organs after death let their families know. Relatives who know about wishes to donate are 50% more likely to agree to donation. Each time consent is given for organ donation, this can save or improve the lives of up to nine people.
Currently around 10,000 people need a transplant in the UK and three people die every day waiting.
(CD/GK)
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Record-Breaking Year For Organ Transplants
In a record-breaking year, 3,960 transplants were carried out in the UK in 2011/12, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) announced today. The Organ Donation and Transplantation Activity Report 2012 shows the seventh year of growth in the number of transplants.
12 October 2004
Awareness campaign leads to rise in transplant ops
Last year saw a 3% increase in the number of transplant operations that took place in the UK in 2002, according to the health department.
Awareness campaign leads to rise in transplant ops
Last year saw a 3% increase in the number of transplant operations that took place in the UK in 2002, according to the health department.
21 August 2015
Teenager Jailed For Abduction And Grooming Of Children
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20 April 2010
Could Donating Your Organs Pay?
Financial incentives are being explored as a means to increase the number of UK organ donors. A consultation has been launched on how the number of organ donors can be increased ethically. One suggestion is providing financial incentives, including the payment of funeral expenses.
Could Donating Your Organs Pay?
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17 July 2007
Everyone 'should be treated as organ donors'
Everyone in the UK should be regarded as a potential organ donor, unless they specifically request to opt out, according to Britain's most senior medical official. Sir Liam Donaldson, England's chief medical officer, suggested that a new scheme was needed in order to tackle the shortage of organs needed for transplants.
Everyone 'should be treated as organ donors'
Everyone in the UK should be regarded as a potential organ donor, unless they specifically request to opt out, according to Britain's most senior medical official. Sir Liam Donaldson, England's chief medical officer, suggested that a new scheme was needed in order to tackle the shortage of organs needed for transplants.
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