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Ronnie’s donor legacy

Ronnie’s donor legacy

NHS TAYSIDE has reached an organ donation high with 44% of the population now signed up to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Having considerably boosted numbers from 33.1% five years ago, the latest statistics signify a record achievement for the health board. In Fife, 39% of people have signed the register and in Forth Valley the figure is 37%.

The recent death of celebrated Dundee transplant patient Ronnie McIntosh has been cited as the reason for the increase in Tayside.

Donor registrations from people with Dundee addresses soared in the days after the 62-year-old Olympic torch carrier’s funeral at the crematorium.

The packed gathering of mourners were told the greatest tribute they could pay to Ronnie would be for them to register as organ donors.

Figures from the NHS Blood and Transplant unit showed that the number of registrations more than doubled from the DD postcode area in the three weeks after his funeral.

The new figures come as a national tour visits the area to encourage more people from Tayside to have a chat about organ donation and join the NHS Organ Donor Register.

The tour visited Asda in Perth yesterday and will be at Tesco Kingsway in Dundee today to highlight the importance of speaking about organ donation with family and loved ones.

The 40-date tour is part of the national campaign, which highlights how the seven words ‘I’d like to be an organ donor’ can save up to seven lives.

NHS Tayside lead clinician for organ donation, Dr Stephen Cole, who is also chairman of the Tayside Donation Committee, said, “Most of us would accept a donated organ if we needed one, so it’s worth taking the time to have a chat and make your views known by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register.”

To join the register visit organdonationscotland.org or text LIFE to 61611. It only takes a few minutes but could mean the difference between life and death for people waiting for a transplant.