Ward 2 colleagues encouraging more conversations around corneal organ donation
Colleagues on Florence Nightingale Community Hospital’s Ward 2 have been raising the awareness with patients, friends and family about how they can help up to five people regain their sight by becoming an corneal organ donor.
The team have been fostering an open, warm environment to encourage conversations around organ donation, specifically around the donation of the cornea, in a bid to increase the number of organ donors.
Clare Ward, Sister on Ward 2, said: “This all came about when a patient actually told us that they wanted to donate their corneas and we weren’t altogether sure what the process was behind this. As a result, the ward team all received specialist training on what to do when a patient is a viable organ donor and how to have these delicate conversations with patients and their friends and relatives.
“We all encourage these conversations and ask our patients and their families if this would be something they would consider, and a lot of the time it is but they just weren’t aware if it was possible.”
Ward 2, which is a specialist 14-bedded palliative care ward, isn’t equipped to physically take donation of organs on-site, but works closely with the national Organ Donor Centre and a local undertaker where the organs are then ‘harvested’. From here, each cornea can go on to help save the sight of five people awaiting a transplant.
Despite only beginning to have these conversations in September 2021, five patients have already gone on to become corneal organ donors after having these conversations with the ward team – something Senior Sister Dawn Wilkinson believes is making a real difference.
She said: “The conversations we’re having are having a really positive impact. For a lot of people, it’s not something they’ve ever given much thought to, but if they can give someone the gift of their sight back and allow them to see the world through their eyes as it were is arguably one of the greatest gifts they can give.
“We’ve had more patients expressing an interest in becoming corneal donors but unfortunately, not everyone is a viable donor. But it’s great to see so many people wanting to have these conversations and make their wishes about organ donation known.”
The law around organ donation changed in England in May 2020, known as Max and Kiera’s Law, and all adults are now considered as having agreed to donate their organs when they die, unless they record a decision not to donate, are in one of the excluded groups or have told their family they do not wish to be a donor.
Around 1.1 million people in the Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Lichfield and Tamworth areas are already on the NHS Organ Donor Register. However, people need to tell their family to help ensure their family supports their decision, if they are approached about organ donation by a specialist nurse in hospital.
Relatives will still always be consulted before organ donation goes ahead and each year, opportunities for transplants are missed because families aren't sure what to do.
Dr Greg Fletcher, Clinical Lead for Organ Donation at our Derby sites and Intensive Care Consultant, said: “The work that the team on Ward 2 are doing is incredible and I want to personally thank them for raising awareness of this potentially life-changing decision. Having conversations with your family, friends and loved ones is the most important thing you can do to leave everyone certain about what your wishes are in regards to organ donation.
“The more we can have these conversations, the more awareness there is in our communities which we hope will encourage more people to donate their organs if they’re able.”
To find out more and register your decision, visit the NHS Organ Donor Register and share your decision with your family. Users of the NHS app, can also use this to record, check or amend their details or decision.
Visit the NHS Organ Donor Register website (opens in new window) >