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18 Apr 2011 08:37:35
An organ donation campaign led by Professor Gurch Randhawa from the University of Bedfordshire has been backed by the Church of England as Easter approaches.
The Department of Health’s Organ Donation Taskforce Campaign is led by Professor Randhawa and has received support from Church leaders, who recognise that more organ donors are needed to increase the number of life-saving transplants.
By enlisting the support of Church leaders, the campaign seeks to dispel common myths that are known to affect donation rates, such as assumed religious objections.
The Rt Revd James Newcome, Bishop of Carlisle, said: “As we prepare to celebrate Easter, Jesus’ self-sacrifice and new life can be echoed in the sphere of organ donation, where we have the opportunity to enhance, prolong or even save another person’s life through our own self-giving.
“The aim of the project is not only to explore faith based perspectives towards organ donation but also to harness the potential of faith communities to address an important social issue. Faith communities have strong social networks and share common values of helping others; it is entirely appropriate that the Church of England has supported this initiative.”
Professor Randhawa, Director of the Institute for Health Research at the University, said: "People often find organ donation a difficult subject to raise with their family and friends and some are unsure of the stance which their religion takes on the issue. This public support from faith leaders gives them clear guidance to help their decision about organ donation.”
The Bishop of Carlisle added: “Although ninety five percent of Britons claim to support the idea of organ donation, less than thirty percent are on the organ donor register. This means that while, at present, there are approximately 10,000 people in the UK waiting for an organ transplant; sadly, one in ten of those people will die waiting.”
The Department of Health’s National Clinical Director of Transplantation, Dr Chris Rudge said: “By working in partnership with faith leaders across major religions we are looking to explain to people that organ donation is something they can and should think about. After they have discussed it with family and friends, we would encourage them to take that next step and join the NHS Organ Donor Register.”
Professor Randhawa is also Co-Chair of the European Working Party on Organ Donation among Diverse Populations and a Member of the UK's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Guidelines Development Group on Organ Donation.
Further information and details on how to become an organ donor can be found by visiting www.organdonation.nhs.uk or by telephoning 0300 123 23 23.
Latest news» 2011» April» Church of England backs Uni expert’s campaign
