NHS Blood and Transplant releases 'Pass it on' campaign advert on changes to the organ donation law
As families gather to celebrate Christmas and New Year, NHS Blood and Transplant is urging people to take time to talk about organ donation.
Eight out of 10 people in England say they would definitely donate or would consider donating their organs, but only a third have told their family this.
From Spring 2020, all adults in England will be considered to have agreed to donate their organs when they die unless they record a decision not to donate - or they are in one of the excluded groups.
The relatives of Alison Foers, who died in November 2018, understand the importance of organ donation.
Alison's organs helped save the lives of four people, one of whom had been waiting for a kidney transplant for several years.
Alison's husband, Chris Foers, said: "She'd always said she wanted to donate anyway and had been on the register for a long time.
"It was an easy decision to make as that's what she wished," he added.
When her family found out the severity of the damage caused by the aneurysm and secondary stroke, they asked to speak to the specialist organ donation team
Chris, who lives in Rutland, said: "This instigated it to get the ball rolling, and once it was rolling it was an easy process - it's well worth doing."
At Alison's funeral, her family gave out organ donation leaflets and have since used social media to promote the importance of it.
NHS Blood and Transplant has launched a TV advertising campaign to highlight the upcoming changes to the law about organ donation in England.
The TV advert - which aired for the first time today (December 20) - follows a woman holding a heart shaped balloon, who observes the scenes of life around her.
In the final scene, the woman silently releases the balloon with a smile, which is received by a waiting patient to symbolise the gift of passing on life through organ donation.
The advert ends with a reminder that the law is changing and urges people to find out more and register a decision.
Anthony Clarkson, director of organ donation and transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Christmas is an incredibly busy time of year, however, it should also be a time for family and thinking of others.
“We want everyone to know the law around organ donation is changing, to understand how it is changing and the choices available to them.
"We want them to make their organ donation decision and whatever that decision is, to share it with their family.
"A time like Christmas, when families come together, is a good opportunity to do this."
To find out more about the choices and to register a decision, visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk.