Yeovil Hospital is inviting the public to get involved with Organ Donation Week with a social media campaign focussing on asking people to consider registering as a donor and sharing their wishes via Twitter.
Taking place between Monday 5 and Sunday 11 September 2016, the “Let’s Talk” initiative is hoping to increase registration but also to encourage conversations among friends and family so those around you know your wishes.
Data shows that 82 per cent of the population definitely want to donate or would consider donating their organs, but only 50 per cent have talked about it with their families.
Medical Director at Yeovil Hospital Dr Tim Scull said: “This campaign week provides an opportunity for us to highlighting the importance of organ donation and celebrating those who have saved lives.
“Losing someone close to you is always a highly emotional time so it is really important we have these conversations in our everyday life, removing that element of doubt from those making the final decision on your behalf.”
On average three people die every day in need of a transplant because there are not enough organs available. One donor can save or transform up to nine lives and there are currently around 7,000 people in the UK on the active waiting list - including around 200 children.
Through the campaign, Yeovil Hospital is asking Twitter users to take two minutes to register on the website www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-to-donate/register-your-details/ before tweeting a selfie or message letting everyone know with the hashtag #YesIDonate @YeovilHospital
Sally Johnson, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation said “We hope people across the UK will get behind the week and the opportunity it presents to focus people’s attention on organ donation. People waiting for transplants depend on people being willing to donate their organs and sadly on average three people die every day across the UK due to a shortage of donated organs.”
For more information, come along to Yeovil Hospital’s Canteen Restaurant during the week or join us as Yeovil Hospital’s AGM on Thursday 8 September where you can drop in any time between 2.30pm-5.30pm at The Manor Hotel, Yeovil.
Categorised in: Trust news and events
This post was written by Communications Team
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