Members of the public are being invited to find out more about organ and tissue donation through an educational event later this week.

Earlier this year, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust launched its life-saving campaign, ‘Be A Hero’, in a bid to raise awareness of the number of people waiting for transplants in the region and to encourage more people to sign the organ donor register.

At present there are currently 26 people in Hull and East Yorkshire on the waiting list and 800 people across Yorkshire waiting for a life-saving transplant.

In the last year, 12 people in our region donated an organ after their death, and whilst not everyone has the opportunity to donate organs, most can donate tissue.

The open event taking place this Friday, 18 March, will see local experts in the field share information around the importance of being an organ donor and what it actually means to have signed the register. It will also give attendees the opportunity to ask any questions they may have about becoming an organ donor.

Dr Mike Felgate, Consultant in Clinical Care, Medicine and Anaesthesia at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, says:

“We launched the ‘Be A Hero’ campaign back in January to not only raise awareness of donation in the region, but to also educate people on what being an organ and tissue donor actually entails. The message behind the campaign is very simple; you don’t need to be a superhero to save a life.

“We’d really like to see as many people as possible at our event so we can show how much potential there is in organ donation. We are looking to inspire as many people as possible to sign the donor register and help to ensure that, in time, everybody who needs an organ in Hull and East Yorkshire gets one in time.

“By holding this event we hope to not only educate people on the importance of organ and tissue donation, we also want to answer any questions they may have, as we understand becoming a donor can be a big decision.”

Everyone is welcome to attend the event, which takes place at 9:30am this Friday 18 March at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham. If you would like to attend, please contact our membership team to register your interest and for further details  – tel 01482 675165 or email Membership.Team@hey.nhs.uk;