Thousands of lives are saved
every year thanks to tissue and organ donors. Signing up to
the NHS Organ Donation Register only takes a
few minutes, and could help transform the life of someone waiting
for a transplant. Sadly, around three people die every day in need
of an organ transplant.
Organ donors can
transform the lives of up to nine people.
One tissue donor can
change the lives of around 30 people.
Advances in medical science mean that
more people each year are able to benefit from donated tissue,
including corneas and bone.
UH Bristol is one of ten official Tissue
Donation Alliance sites.
This means that all adult deaths are referred to NHS Blood and
Transplant so the possibility of tissue
donation can
be explored. Referral does not mean automatic tissue
retrieval.
The families of loved ones who pass
away
may be contacted by a
specialist nurse from NHS Blood and Transplant shortly after the
death. If they consent to the person becoming a tissue donor,
retrieval will be carried out at Bristol Royal
Infirmary.
It is important that you talk to your
family so that they are aware of your wishes.
More information about tissue and
organ donation can be found in this section.
