Urgent appeal for families to talk after patients die waiting for transplants in Merseyside

FAMILIES in and around Merseyside are being urged to talk during Organ Donation Week, over 3 September to 9 September 2018, as new figures show 47 people from the area have died waiting for a transplant in the last 5 years.

Tragically, despite the fact more and more people are supporting donating their loved 1's organs, there is still an urgent need for more people to support donation.

NHS Blood and Transplant is now urging more people in Merseyside to tell their families that they want to save lives through organ donation.

in 2017, 86 people in Merseyside had their lives saved by a transplant. If more people agreed to donate, more lives would be saved in Merseyside and around the country.

Within Merseyside, more detailed local figures include:-

► 15 people from Liverpool have died on the waiting list in the past 5 years and 29 people from Liverpool received a transplant, in 2017.

► 11 people from Wirral have died on the waiting list in the past 5 years and 14 people from Wirral received a transplant, in 2017.

► 5 or fewer people from St Helens have died on the waiting list in the past 5 years and 12 people from St Helens received a transplant, in 2017.

► 12 people from Sefton have died on the waiting list in the past 5 years and 16 people from Sefton received a transplant in 2017.

► 5 or fewer people from Knowsley have died on the waiting list in the past 5 years and 14 people from Knowsley received a transplant, in 2017.

Although the number of donors is increasing, and the waiting lists are reducing, right now there are around 6,000 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant across the UK.

During Organ Donation Week, the NHS is urging families to talk about donation with the message:- "Words Save Lives." Councils and organisations around the country are lighting prominent buildings pink, which is the colour of the modern donor card, in support of the country's organ donation campaign.

The buildings being lit up pink include St George's Hall, in Liverpool and the Steve Prescott Memorial Bridge in St Helens.

Anthony Clarkson, Interim Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said:- "It's tragic that so many people from Merseyside have died waiting for a transplant; what is shocking is that many of those lives could have been saved, had more families agreed to donate organs. People are dying every day because some families are not talking about donation. We need more families in Merseyside to say yes to organ donation, so that more lives can be saved. We all know that organ donation legislation will change to a deemed consent system in England and Scotland in future years, but the harsh fact is people are dying right now waiting for an organ and it will still be important for people to know your decision. We don't want people to die because of a fatal complacency that because you know you want to be an organ donor you presume your loved ones know it too. Please, let your family know your decision and ask them if they want to be donors. Don't leave your family guessing what you would have wanted to happen. We know that many families feel enormous pride and comfort at knowing that their relative went on to save lives through the gift of organ donation."

Nationally, around three people die a day in need of an organ. Only a small percentage of people die in circumstances where they can donate, so every donor is precious.

Millions of people are already on the NHS Organ Donor Register, join them today and tell your family you want to save lives. Register at:- OrganDonation.NHS.UK.

10 young people stepped out of their comfort zones to participate in a range of performing arts, thanks to the help of Liverpool creative academy MD Productions. Community Trust and MD Productions now recruiting their next group of young people to join the programme, throughout September 2018.

A talented group of Merseyside young people stepped out of their comfort zone and onto the stage, as they showcased their performing skills after completing a groundbreaking creative programme run by Premiership Rugby side, Sale Sharks.

The 10 young people took part in the 'Creative Academy' programme run by the club's charitable arm, the:- 'Sharks Community Trust,' in partnership with nationally acclaimed MD Productions.

And to mark the end of the programme's 1st intake, they put on a special performance, showing off their singing and dancing talents in front of an invited audience.

The 1st group of participants in the programme, which launched at MD's newly refurbished Tapestry building in Liverpool in January, come from a range of challenging circumstances. For many, joining the programme marked the 1st time they had ever been in a studio let alone perform on stage.

Miguel Doforo, MD Productions Creative Director and founder of the acclaimed performing arts centre said:- "Every 1 of the young people who have taken part in the Creative Academy is a genuine inspiration to us all. What they have achieved in a relatively short space of time is amazing. Everyone comes from completely different backgrounds, they have faced their own challenges, but through this programme they have also shown incredible bravery, talent and a true appetite to succeed."

MD Productions was established in 2001 by Miguel Doforo, after he found that his home City of Liverpool lacked the facilities to experiment and express creatively.

Since January, Miguel and his team have been working with the Sharks Community Trust team to tutor the participants; based around the Liverpool City Region, in a range of creative arts, including:- DJing, dance and filmmaking.

Community coaches have also been helping the young people learn a range of new employability skills, including qualifications in maths and English.

Sale Sharks Community Rugby coach, John Travena, added:- "MD Productions is a genuine phenomenon in the arts, and Miguel and the team have been a fantastic support partner on this programme. They have given the young people a safe space to express themselves creatively whilst also enabling them to gain valuable insight and education to prepare them for the world of work. The results speak volumes and the new-found confidence many of the young people have gained after taking part in the programme really do show that."

Sharks Community Trust and MD Productions are now on the look out for a 2nd group of young people to join the Creative Academy, in September 2018.

If any young people are interested in taking part they can contact John Travena at:- John.Travena@SaleSharks.Com.  For more information on the work of Sale Sharks Community Trust, visit:- SaleSharks.Com/Community or call:- 0161 667 7518.