Londoners urged to consider organ donation as figures show hundreds have died waiting for transplant
Londoners are being encouraged to discuss organ donation with their loved ones, after new figures showed that hundreds have died while waiting for a transplant over the last decade.
Figures released by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) to mark Organ Donation Week show that more than 12,000 people in the UK - including 808 in London - have died or been removed from the transplant waiting list over the past ten years before receiving lifesaving organs.
The NHS said this highlights the "urgent need" to increase organ donation registrations.
A 20-year-old from Newham is one of those waiting for transplant, after being diagnosed with a rare kidney condition.
Four years ago, Eliza Jeurissen was diagnosed with FSGS, which is a rare kidney condition that causes too much protein to be lost in the urine and too much water to be retained in the body.
When she was 19 she suffered kidney failure and now has to undergo 10 hours of at-home dialysis every night.
She told ITV News London: "It's really hard to balance dialysis and living a normal life because you are still expected to do everything else.
"And I think because I dialyse at home, it's almost like I have two lives ... it's a very rigid schedule."
Eliza went on to describe the nervous wait facing all those on the transplant list.
"I feel anxious sometimes, not knowing when I will get the call, not knowing how long I will have to wait. Sometimes I feel like I can't move forward in life until that happens. Yeah, it's really stressful," she said.
Due to her ethnicity, Eliza was told to expect her wait to be 3-5 years as Black people wait longest for transplant due to the lack of suitably matched organs.
Faced with the thought of receiving an organ, she said she feels mixed emotions.
"I think there are so many emotions that come with getting a transplant. Good and also scary emotions because you don't always know if it's going to be successful.
"But I think that for a lot of people, that is the point that they wait for - for, like, their whole life," she said.
In May 2020 the law around organ donation changed in the UK to become an "opt-out system".
It means that when a person dies it will be considered that they agree to become an organ donor if their are over 18, have not opted out and are not in an excluded group.
According to NHSBT, excluded groups include:
Under-18s
People who lack the mental capacity to understand the new arrangements and take the necessary action
Visitors to England, and those not living here voluntarily
People who have lived in England for less than 12 months before their death
Under the ‘opt-out’ system, donation can still only go ahead with the family’s support.
Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHSBT said those who want to become a donor after they die should make it clear to there families.
He said: “Last year, 90% of families honoured their loved one's decision to become a donor when they had recorded their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register, which made those conversations with families so much easier.
"People are far more likely to support donation when they know it’s what their relative wanted."
NHSBT said despite the challenges, there has been promising progress, with more than 44,000 lives have been saved or improved through deceased and living donor organ transplants in the past decade.
Mr Clarkson added: “I would urge everyone in London who supports organ donation to register their decision and make it clear that it’s what you want should the worst happen.
"It only takes 2 minutes to register but it could save the lives of people who so desperately need a transplant. Please sign up. It’s the best thing you’ll do today."
Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know…