A simple conversation to save lives
Hunter New England Health is encouraging people to discuss their wishes about organ and tissue donation, in support of a national campaign to increase organ and tissue donation rates.
The new DonateLife national advertising campaign was launched by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd last month and Hunter New England Health Organ and Tissue Donor Coordinator Jeanette Lacey said it was important for the community to get behind the campaign.
“Hunter New England Health residents would have seen the DonateLife advertisements on their TVs, radios, billboards and online encouraging people to talk to their loved ones about their wishes regarding organ donation,” Ms Lacey said.
“We support the message in the campaign and we encourage our community to take it on board and talk to their families,” she said.
Ms Lacey said one of the biggest hurdles to increasing
”Many Australians do not realise that, even if they have registered to be a donor, it is the people close to them that will be asked to give the final consent.
“Most people support organ donation but about 40 per cent of families do not consent to donation because they did not know the wishes of their loved one,” Ms Lacey said.
“When a family knows that their loved one wanted to save lives by donating their organs, they usually want to carry out their wish and could save the lives of up to eight people.
“If all Australians know the wishes of those close to them, we would have a much higher family consent rate and we could save more lives,” she said.
The new DonateLife campaign encourages families to talk about donation, with the tagline: ‘To donate life, discuss it today – OK’.
“We need all Australian families to use family moments as the opportunity to have a memorable conversation about organ and tissue donation.”
Ms Lacey acknowledged that broaching the topic of organ and tissue donation with loved ones can be difficult and said the new campaign will go a long way towards normalising the conversation.
“I encourage anyone who hasn’t had the discussion with those close to them to do it today. “Not only is it ‘OK’ – it’s very important.”
As part of the new campaign Hunter New England Health will be holding an information session from 9-2pm on Tuesday 22 June in the Royal Newcastle Centre Foyer. Everyone is welcome to come along and learn more about Organ and Tissue Donation.
The first phase of the DonateLife campaign will run until 30 June 2010. For further information on organ and tissue donation visit: www.donatelife.gov.au
Media opportunity: A family who made the decision to consent to donating a loved one’s organs is available for media interviews.
Contact: Sharna McCarthy
Phone: 49214501