Tissue donation after death

Almost anyone can be considered as a tissue donor, however, there are some rare exemptions.

To ensure that all donated tissues are safe, the donor´s medical and lifestyle history will be assessed at the time of donation.

The best time for donation is within 24 hours after someone has died. However, sometimes it is possible to donate up to 48 hours after death.

Yes, donation can occur in any hospital throughout the UK.

We also work in partnership with a number of hospitals throughout England where tissue donation after death is part of the end of life care. At these hospitals, staff will provide a leaflet on tissue donation with any bereavement care documentation and will inform our Specialist Tissue Donation Nurses. Our Specialist Nurse may contact you/your familiy/or your nominated representative by telephone to discuss tissue donation further.

We currently work in this way in partnership with:

• Aintree University Hospital
• Glan Clwyd Hospital
• Northampton General Hospital
• Queens Hospital, Essex
• Royal Liverpool Hospital
• Whiston Hospital
• Wrexham Maelor Hospital
• Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital

If you would like to help others after your death, please register on the NHS Organ Donor Register, either

Online: www.organdonation.nhs.uk
or call 0300 123 23 23

Please make your donation wishes known to your family or close friends.

Once removed, the donated tissues are transferred to a tissue bank where they are examined, tested, treated, and stored until they are used in transplant operations.

A request for tissues can come at any time so we need to make sure that we always have enough tissue available. For this reason, tissues are stored in our state of the art tissue bank in Liverpool.

Donated heart valves can be stored for up to 10 years.

All other donated tissues, apart from eyes, can be stored for up to five years.

Donated eyes can be stored for up to one year, but if suitable for transplantation they are often transplanted within a month.

Yes, it's really important to let your close family and friends know your donation wishes. In the event that you should become a donor, your family will be asked to give their consent so letting them know your wishes is an important part of the registration process.

Yes. You can indicate which tissues you wish to donate when you join the Organ Donor Register. Only those tissues for which you have given permission will be donated.

There are NO age restrictions for:

• Bone
• Skin
• Eyes

However, heart valves and tendons can only be donated up to the age of 60.