Council joins drive for more blood and organ donors
Worcestershire County Council has become the first county council in the UK to join forces with NHS Blood and Transplant in a bid to encourage more people to donate blood, sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register and discuss their wishes with their loved ones.
The authority has become one of just four UK councils to sign up to a potentially life-saving partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant, which collects donated blood in England and North Wales and manages the UK's organ donation system.
The partnership in conjunction with the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust (WAHT) Organ Donation Committee, will see the council promote both blood and organ donation to its employees and residents through channels such as its website and staff newsletter.
The initiative will include a series of presentations at sixth form colleges throughout the county, organised and delivered by WAHT's Organ Donation Committee.
The council and committee, who have committed to the three year partnership, will also recruit specially-trained ambassadors to raise awareness of the need for more blood and organ donors in their local communities.
Cllr Marcus Hart, Cabinet Member at Worcestershire County Council for Health and Well-being, said:"Blood and organ donors save lives. That's why the Council is delighted to be embarking on this partnership. We hope that many more people will give blood and join the organ donor register."
It is hoped that the initiative will provide a significant increase in the number of Worcestershire residents who are on the NHS Organ Donor Register and give blood.
Michael Aimes, Chair of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust Organ Donation Committee, said:"We are very encouraged by the support that is being given to this life saving aspect of health care by the County Council. The success of this project will save or improve the lives of many people in the county."
Zeeshan Asghar, NHS Blood and Transplant's Partnership Development Manager, said: "As a trusted source of information at the heart of its community, we are delighted that Worcestershire County Council has made a three year commitment to inspire the local residents to do something lifesaving.
"Only 32% of people living in Worcestershire have signed up to the NHS Organ Donor register* while less than 3% of them are active blood donors**. With 113 people waiting for a transplant in the county and a constant need for life-saving blood transfusions, Worcestershire County Council's work will be a fantastic way to spread the word about the importance of donation."
