Making Donation Usual Not Unusual

In January 2008 the Organ Donation Taskforce (ODTF) Report made 14 recommendations - one of which was to make organ donation a usual, rather than unusual, event. This meant building it into the end-of-life care for appropriate patients.

Regional Collaboratives
In 2010/11 we started introducing regional collaborations between all those involved in organ retrieval and transplantation across the UK to tackle barriers to organ donation in the NHS. This brings together all the clinical and specialist infrastructures in the UK, to tackle local issues and help us deliver enough organs to meet transplant needs - as well as saving the three people who die each day due to lack of a suitable organ.

Specialist Nurses for Organ Donation and Clinical Leads in Organ Donation
This year, our 184 Specialist Nurses for Organ Donation (SNOD) continued to develop strong relationships with Clinical Leads in Organ Donation (CLOD) and Donation Committees. Together they are creating a culture where potential for organ donation becomes a usual rather than an unusual event.

Clinical Leads in Organ Donation
In 2010/11 we had 192 CLODs around the UK. These are typically intensive care or emergency medicine consultants employed by Trusts who receive a financial contribution from us for supporting donation. They have continued to progress organ and tissue donation in their Trusts.

Donation Committees
More than 170 Donation Committees have been set up in NHS Acute Hospitals and Foundation Trusts across the country. These have helped to increase donation rates in UK hospitals by 23% over the last two years. Every Acute donating area had a Chair of the Donation Committee in place by March 2010, championing organ donation.

Professional Development
In 2010 we launched the Professional Development Programme (PDP) for Organ Donation Committee Chairs and CLODs with support from partners Deloitte and the UK Government's Health Departments.

The 12-month interactive and practical learning package provided CLODs and Chairs with the knowledge and skills to promote donation in their hospitals - and we had more than 350 attendees.

The final PDP meeting took place in February 2011. It has been a vital component in enabling clinical leads to develop and enhance the care delivered to potential donors and their families in all UK Acute Hospitals. And there is already evidence that this is beginning to deliver the increase in donor numbers that we so desperately need.