Latest figures released today show a rise in the number South Australians agreeing to transform the lives of others by consenting to be an organ donor.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Stephen Wade said 73 per cent of South Australian families made the decision to donate their loved one’s organs in 2018, up 10 per cent on the previous year.
“Through this generosity, 36 South Australians saved the lives of 95 people on the organ recipient waitlist, giving them the ultimate gift of life,” Minister Wade said.
“I encourage everyone to speak with their loved ones about organ donation and make their wishes known.
“Our hospitals have also improved the donation process giving families earlier access to donation specialists to guide them through what can be a very emotional time.
“By empowering our clinicians with the right tools, they are better able to help patients and their families through the process.”
The Organ and Tissue Authority today released their annual outcomes for organ donation and transplantation, showing more Australians are consenting to donation than ever before.
Nationally, 1,544 people received a transplant from 554 deceased organ donors, the highest number on record, with the majority receiving a new kidney, liver or lungs.
In the 10 years since the national program started, organ donation has more than doubled, saving nearly twice the number of people through transplantation.
Medical Director of DonateLife SA, Dr Stewart Moodie, said organ donation wouldn’t be possible without those families saying ‘yes’.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all donors and their families for making the decision and giving so many people a second chance at life,” Dr Moodie said.
“The legacy of organ donation is incredibly valuable to many families and the entire community.
“DonateLifeSA works closely with hospital teams to support end-of-life patients and their families to ensure someone’s donation wish is always fulfilled.”
For the full report visit https://donatelife.gov.au/
