In 2006 the DoH commissioned an Organ Donation Taskforce to identify the reasons for poor rates of donation in the UK. They studied models from leaders in organ donation including Spain the US. 14 recommendations were published in 2008 with the aim of increasing organ donation in the UK by 50% by 2013. These recommendations included; Improving the support for and understanding of donation across the NHS Addressing legal and ethical concerns Reimbursing trusts for donation activity Strengthening Donor Transplant Coordinator and organ retrieval services Improving training for staff Public promotion of organ donation. All aspects of organ donation to be seen as usual, not unusual part of end of life care North West Organ Donation Newsletter Changes to Organ Donation Services In this Issue How have the changes affected our Hospitals? Introduction of in-house donor transplant coordinators. The in-house coordinator is responsible for education, audit and improving the organ donation services within the trust. Appointment of Clinical Leads for Organ Donation Formulation of Organ Donation Committees National Potential Donor Audit (PDA) to be completed for every death in ITU and ED to identify if organ donation has been offered to suitable families, as an option, as part of the end of life care we provide. All findings are reportable to the trust board and NHS Blood and Transplant. Implementation of new policies for Organ Donation to provide guidance to staff on the identification and referral of potential donors Changed the DTC title to Specialist Nurse - Organ Donation. Changes in Organ Donation Organ Donation Facts Who can Donate? What Organs Can we Donate? Regional Organ Donation Study Days Land of Smiles Charity Issue 1 Summer 2010 Plans for the future Increase the numbers of Organ Donation within our trusts and make it a usual part of end of life care for patients in ITU and ED who have been identified as potential organ donors. Education programmes to take place in ITU, ED and Theatres on Organ Donation,. Places to be available on the Regional Study Days for Organ Donation throughout the Northwest for medical and nursing staff. Organ Donation Newsletter to keep staff up to date. Currently there are over 10,000 people waiting for an organ transplant. Of these, over 1000 each year - that's 3 every day die waiting Clare Harrop - Editor.
Organ Donation Facts There are over 17 million people on the Organ Donor Register - this is only 27% of the population You are more likely to need a transplant than become a donor The oldest solid organ donor in the UK was 84 yrs old The average cost of dialysis is 30, 800 per patient per year, the cost of a kidney transplant is aprox!7, 00 per patient per transplant. All major religions support organ donation with many actively promoting it. In a recent survey over 90% of the UK population said they were supportive of organ donation but many had not informed their relatives or registered on the Organ Donor Register Who Can Donate? More women than men have signed the organ donor register (54%v46%) There are no age restrictions for the referral of patients as a potential donor after brain or cardiac death. DBD Patients who have undergone brain stem testing by 2 senior doctors and have been confirmed brain stem dead, usually following an extensive head injury, bleed or hypoxic brain injury. DCD There are 2 types of donation Donation after brain stem death (DBD) Donation after cardiac death (DCD). Patients who are usually ventilated/intubated and treatment has been deemed futile and the decision has been made to withdraw treatment on ICU or ED. On referral, all patients are assessed individually by the Specialist Nurse - Organ Donation and transplant surgeons. The organ donor register is checked and the family may be approached regarding donation should the patient be considered as a suitable donor.
Regional Organ Donation Study Days The regional organ donation study days have received excellent evaluations from the staff who have attended over the last few months. Both nurses and doctors found it to be very informative and valuable. If you would like to book a place on any of the study days please contact your In-house Specialist Nurse - Organ Donation or contact the NW Team office 0300 123 1207 Sample of Agenda for Study Days (May vary slightly for each day) 9.15 9.30 Registration 9.30 10.00 Introduction to DTC and their new role 10.00 10.30 Donor Family Story 10.30 11.00 Donation after Brain and Cardiac Death 11.00 11.15 Coffee 11.15 11.45 Why organ Donation is part of end of life care 11.45 12.00 Case Studies 12.00 12.30 Brain Stem Death 12.30 13.15 Lunch 13.15-13.45 Role of the theatre staff 13.45 14.15 Organ Donation from ED 14.15 14.45 Coroners Role 14.45 15.00 Coffee 15.00 15.20 Tissue Donation 15.20 15.40 Recipient Story 16.00 16.30 Questions and Evaluation Upcoming Dates Thursday 29 th July Whiston Hospital (FULL) Thursday 26 th August 2010 Arrowe Park Hospital Friday 1 st October 2010 Macclesfield Hospital Thursday 25 th October 2010 Hope Hospital (SRFT) Thursday 24 th November 2010 Glan Clwyd Hospital Thursday 16 th December 2010 Blackburn Hospital These study days cover all aspects of organ donation. They are aimed at all medical and nursing professionals from ICU Theatres ED Speakers Include - Clinical Leads - Organ Donation - HM Coroners - Donor Family Network - Recipients of transplants - Specialist Nurses - Organ Donation
What organs can be donated? Donation After Brain Stem Death (DBD) Donation After Cardiac Death (DCD) Heart Lungs (single or double) Liver (may be split) 2 Kidneys Pancreas Small bowel Tissues; including skin, tendons, bone, femoral vessels, heart valves (if heart not suitable for solid organ donation). Lungs (single or double) Liver 2 Kidneys Pancreas Tissues; including skin, tendons, bone, femoral vessels, heart valves. Potentially 8 solid organ transplants from 1 DBD donor and tissues to benefit up to 50 people. Potentially 6 solid organ transplants from 1 DCD donor and tissues to benefit up to 50 people Future Newsletters Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this edition of the North West Organ Donation Newsletter. We hope to produce informative newsletters biannually and we welcome any articles, ideas or comments. Is there something specific you would like more information on, a question you want to ask or an issue you can feedback on? Please email Clare Harrop clare.harrop@nhsbt.nhs.uk
Land of Smiles Katie Whittle It has been more than five years since the tsunami hit Thailand on that fateful morning of December 26th 2004. The tsunami struck with no warning and was unforgiving in its ferocity shocking the world. It had more than an immediate effect. Whilst the loss of lives on an unimaginable scale wrecked families, there was also a more long lasting effect as the homes and livelihoods of the people were also wiped out. Many of the people living near the coast were fishermen who not only lost their families and homes but also lost their fishing boats, leaving them in despair. Children who lost their parents turned to orphanages for help, these orphanages whether state run or funded charitable organisations as well as being run by trained staff are also staffed by locals who themselves have lost children or family members to the tsunami. The tsunami was more than one day of carnage, its effects are long lasting and as such will need help and funding for many years to come until such a time that the infrastructure of the economy has been stabilised, families have been re-established and communities have been rebuilt. It was the devastation and the enormity that struck Jane and her partner Steve when they visited Thailand that impacted so much that they felt the need to help and made the decision to sponsor the orphanage, Baan Tharn Namchai. Jane and Steve work hard to promote their charity and raise money and Jane has recently enlisted the help of some transplant coordinator colleagues who have recently ran the Liverpool 10k. They are also heading to Ben Nevis in September and are planning to climb Kilimanjaro next year. Since sponsoring the orphanage they have helped and personally got their shirts dirty helping the staff and locals develop and maintain the orphanage and its immediate environment. The garden now serves the orphanage with a variety of local crops and also creates an excess that the children sell on at market or to the local neighbourhood as part of their education. The playground is enjoyed by 72 children from the orphanage and also all the children from the surrounding neighbourhood. A sala up at the rubber plantation which has electricity, plumbing and living quarters as well as a floating sala on the water and this sala will be used for fishing and for when the children visit the plantation. A catfish pond is now home to hundreds of catfish and Jane and Steve have arranged a year s supply of food for the fish. These will be bred both for food and to sell back into the local community. Well done Jane. Keep up the good work! Jane Monks is a specialist nurse - organ donation based within the North West team. If you can offer any support for this well deserved charity please visit www.landofsmiles.co.uk