Wales This Week, From the Heart
In a special episode, tonight's Wales this Week looks at Organ Donation and speaks to those whose lives have been transformed as a result
ITV launches From the Heart: Organ donation in the UK
ITV launches a new campaign, From the Heart, to raise awareness of organ donation and the NHS Organ Donor Register.
Support for presumed consent organ donation plans
Results of a survey published today show support for the Welsh Government's proposals, but nearly a quarter of people want more information.
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Wales This Week, From the Heart
by Wales This Week
In a special episode, tonight's Wales this Week looks at Organ Donation and speaks to those whose lives have been transformed as a result
Read the full storyDonor's Family Backs Campaign to Cut Transplant Waiting Lists
by Wales This Week
Discussing organ donation is something that many people will inevitably find difficult, especially within a hospital during an emotional time. There are specialist nurses on hand do offer advice regarding organ donation and to offer support to the family members.
Andrea Bradley is a Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation at Morriston Hospital in Swansea.
"I go and speak to the families and give them the information whether or not their relative had registered on the Organ Donor Register or not. I give the families the information they need for them to decide for themselves if it's something they would like to consider...
...I think most people think that anyone can become an organ donor, I dont think people realise that you have to pass away in a certain situation. You have to be on a ventilator or in intensive care or in an emergency department...
...To go back to a family and sit down with them and tell them the organs have been used in a successful transplant is an amazing thing because they realise their loved ones have gone on to help somebody else... They are amazing families
Andrea Bradley, Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation
One couple who have experienced this process are Teresa and Alan Wilkin. Their daughter Claire died after suffering a brain aneurism. They feel proud of the fact that her organs went on to help five other people. Unbeknown to them, Claire had signed the organ donor register.
"We didn't feel under any pressure about letting her organs go because it was her decision. We get a lot of comfort from the donation as a family. We know she's gone but she's given something to somebody and we are proud of her for that"
Teresa Wilkin
You can hear more about Teresa and Alan's story in a special episode of Wales This Week, tonight at 8 on ITV Cymru Wales
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Concern raised over 'soft opt-out' scheme
The 'From the Heart' campaign is also encouraging more of us to talk to our families about organ donation. Statistics prove families are more likely to consent for the organs of a loved one to be donated if they knew their wishes.
If you wish to join the organ donor register you can get further information from the website at www.itv.com/fromtheheart
Support for organ donor campaign
by Wales This Week
Organ transplants have been saving lives since the first operation in 1959. Since that pioneering day one problem has not been resolved. The shortage of suitable organs for use in transplant operations.
In Wales there are approximately three hundred people on the waiting list for a transplant at any one time. A shortage of donor organs means that about three people die each month in Wales while waiting for a transplant. Organs that can be donated include hearts, kidneys, livers and lungs.
Signing the Organ Donor Register is something that 75% of Welsh people are apparently in favour of doing, but only 31% have actually signed it.
Closing the gap between those in favour and numbers on the registrer its self has been the focus of many campaigns over the years, including the current ITV 'From the Heart' campaign, and the Welsh Government's 'Heart to Heart' roadshow which encourages people to discuss organ donation.
If more organs were available then the amount of time people would have to spend on the waiting list would be considerably shorter. One person who was lucky enough to receive a multi organ transplant was Emma Abdullah who needed an emergency operation after suffering a blood clot.
"I needed a liver, pancreas, stomach and small bowel transplant. I just never thought that I would become that ill, to be so close to losing my own life at such a young age... I would just say to people to sign the form. I's not just one person your saving, its the whole family"
Emma Abdullah
You can hear more about Emma's story in a special episode of Wales This Week, tonight at 8 on ITV Cymru Wales**
A life saved through organ donation
Emma's life was transformed by organ donation. On ITV Cymru Wales at 6 o'clock we'll hear her story and explore the different path Wales could take.
The Welsh Government has introduced a bill which would see Wales have a 'soft opt out consent' system - unlike the current system, individuals would have to take their names off the organ donor register.
Ministers believe it will save lives but that idea is not supported by everyone. The head of the Church in Wales says organ donation should be a 'gift' and nobody should be compelled to give.
'3 died waiting for organ donation every month last year'
Wales' Health Minister Lesley Griffiths AM says that she hopes the soft out-out scheme will make more organs available in Wales.
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Hundreds in Wales waiting for an organ transplant
This week ITV is launching a new campaign called 'From the Heart'. The aim is to raise awareness about organ donation but its implications could transform the lives of hundreds of people in Wales.
There are hundreds of Welsh people currently waiting for an organ transplant but there are not enough organs available.
As part of the campaign ITV Cymru Wales will have special reports and programmes exploring and highlighting the shortage of organ donors, its implications and the reasons behind it, focusing on the recipients of donor organs and how lives can be transformed.
- At any time there are around 300 people on the organ transplant waiting list in Wales.
- There were only 156 transplants in 2012 and the early part of 2013.
- 40% of families refuse for organs to be donated from a loved one.
ITV launches From the Heart: Organ donation in the UK
ITV launches a new campaign, From the Heart, to raise awareness of organ donation and the NHS Organ Donor Register.
Read the full storyWales This Week, From The Heart
In this week's programme, Wales This Week speaks to those who have been directly affected by organ donation in Wales, and we investigate controversial Welsh Government plans to introduce an opt-out donor scheme .
Wales This Week, From the Heart, is on Monday at 8 on ITV Cymru Wales
Organ donation awareness campaign
The Welsh Government is stepping up its campaign to get more people to support organ donation. It's asking more of us to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register. Later this month a Wales-wide roadshow will be launched to publicise the campaign. Here's our Correspondent Richard Morgan.
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