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DONOR
REGISTER:- STILL TIME TO JOIN THE 1 MILLION CHALLENGE
JUST over 50,000
more "lifesavers" are needed to help the NHS Organ
Donor Register reach its goal of adding 1 million new registrations
during its 10th anniversary year. With less than 1 month of the
national challenge to go, UK Transplant is urging everyone who
hasn't yet registered to do it now and send a huge message of
support to the thousands currently waiting for a life-saving
transplant.
Since 6 October, when the million challenge was launched at a
special event in Trafalgar Square, the NHS authority has been
deluged with applications from kind hearted people wanting to join
the ODR which has led to 948,711 new registrations, bringing the
total to more than 12.5 million.
Maxine Walter, spokesman for NHS UK Transplant, said:- "The
response so far has been wonderful and underlines the huge support
that exists for organ donation in the UK. Thanks are due to everyone
who's taken the time to sign up. We're now counting on just over
50,000 more people to help us make it a million!"
The kindness of donors has meant that 2,529 people have had their
lives saved or enhanced by an organ transplant in the first 11
months of the anniversary year. During the same period, a further
2,194 patients have regained their sight through a cornea
transplant. Almost 8,000 people in the UK need an organ transplant
to save or dramatically improve their lives but fewer than 2,800
transplants take place each year in the UK due to the shortage of
donors.
Maxine Walter added:- "Transplantation is a highly successful
treatment but without the generosity of donors it would not be
possible. I would urge anyone who has been thinking about signing
up, but has not got round to it, to do it now. They'll be helping us
to meet our challenge but, more importantly, potentially to save
lives in future. Then they need to inform those close to them about
their decision so that their wishes can be acted upon if the time
ever comes."
Anyone who has been carrying a donor card for longer than 10 years
is also encouraged to sign up as the register provides a more secure
way of recording their wishes. Anyone can join the NHS Organ Donor
Register by telephoning the Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400 or by
visiting www.uktransplant.org.uk. |
Letters to editor:- "CLINICAL DIRECTOR
OF ORTHOPAEDICS"
"IT
is with great sadness that we learn of the sudden death of Mr
Thottapilli Jayaram (Jay) Menon on Sunday 4th September 2005, aged
58. Mr Menon joined Ormskirk Hospital as Consultant Orthopaedic
Surgeon in March l984 and had recently received his Long Service
Award at a ceremony in the Trust.
Mr Menon was born in Southern India and graduated from Madras
University with a MBBS in 1971. In 1975 he became a Fellow of the
Royal College of Surgeons from Glasgow University and a Fellow of
the Royal College of Surgeons (Orthopaedics) from Edinburgh in l982;
gaining Higher Surgical Training Certificate in Orthopaedics in
l983.
Mr Menon was Clinical Director of Orthopaedics for the Trust and led
the clinical development of orthopaedics, culminating in the recent
reconfiguration of services to create a trauma unit and an elective
unit.
He spent many years helping provide surgery on a voluntary basis in
Southern India and was the driving force behind the annual
Orthopaedic Ball, raising money for the orthopaedic service.
He will be remembered by his friends and colleagues for not only his
clinical skill and commitment to his patients, but also as a
wonderful, helpful man who was always more concerned about others
than himself.
Our sympathies go to his wife Raji and son Nikki and all his
extended family and friends." Southport and Ormskirk
Hospital NHS Trust.
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