From the Heart: Waiting for a kidney transplant
Patients at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary put up with gruelling dialysis, waiting for a transplant that could change their lives.
Grandmother urges more to join the organ donor register
The grandmother of a baby whose mother died just a few hours after giving birth is urging people to join the donor register.
Trust formed in teenagers memory
When a Cumbrian teenager tragically died of meningitis her family made the decision to donate her organs, she saved three other lives.
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'Opt-out system for organ donation needed' say leading doctors
Many leading doctors have said that an opt-out system for organ donation would better reflect the views of most Scots.
Practitioners from the British Medical Association (BMA), said that it was time for a 'serious debate' on organ donation.
– Doctor Sue Robertson, Renal physician"All the time we waste now means that more lives will be lost. Now is the time for a serious debate about moving to opt-out."
ITV have been running the 'From the Heart' campaign, which has been encouraging people to consider joining the organ donor register.
Mother said no to donating her baby son's organs - but regretted it
Shelley Wealleans from Carlisle was asked whether she would donate her baby son's organs when he died at 11 weeks old. She said no, but has regretted it ever since.
Shelley now campaigns to encourage others to become organ donors. If you want to join the organ donor register, find more information at ITV's From the Heart website here.
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40% of families say no to organ donation
As part of ITV's From the Heart campaign, ITV Border is looking at organ donation - and how to increase the number of donors.
NHS research shows families asked whether they will donate a relative's organs shortly after their death say no 40% of the time. Even among those who have signed the organ donor register, expressing a wish to donate, one in ten families says no.
From the Heart: Waiting for a kidney transplant
Patients at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary put up with gruelling dialysis, waiting for a transplant that could change their lives.
Read the full storyHundreds waiting on organ donors
This week ITV's 'From the Heart' campaign is looking at the issue of organ donation.
Nearly 400 people throughout the region are waiting for organ transplants.
Patients waiting for kidney transplants in Dumfries have to travel for dialysis at least three times a week, for up to six hours at a time.
Grandmother urges more to join the organ donor register
The grandmother of a baby whose mother died just a few hours after giving birth is urging people to join the donor register.
Read the full storyAdvertisement
Trust formed in teenagers memory
When a Cumbrian teenager tragically died of meningitis her family made the decision to donate her organs, she saved three other lives.
Read the full storyFamily Memorial for organ donors
A Carlisle family has generously donated £2,000 to the proposed North Cumbria Organ Donor Family Memorial. The memorial will be a place where people can visit and reflect, remembering those who have saved the lives of others through organ donation.
Anne Glendinning, who is a Senior Nursing Assistant at the Cumberland Infirmary, lost her 17 year old daughter Sally to Meningitis last year. They made the decision to donate some of Sally's organs. The family set up the Sally Glendinning Meningitis Fund. (www.carlislemeningitis.com).
There are currently 73 people waiting for an organ transplant in Cumbria. Last year 48 people received a transplant in the region. only 29% of Cumbria's population is on NHS Organ Donor Register.
Consultant Anaesthetist, Colin Rodgers, is the Clinical Lead for Organ Donation. Colin said:
– Colin Rodgers"Organ donation is often treated as a taboo subject but it shouldn't be. It is a good idea to speak to your family about your wishes regarding organ donation so they would be clear about what to do if anything should happen to you.
"Three people in the UK die every day whilst waiting for a transplant so it is a situation which has to be improved upon. The staff in the wards at both Carlisle and Whitehaven are really positive and are trying to make things happen with support from Trisha Rose who is the Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation."