The Law surrounding organ donation in England has changed

Funded by the NHSBT’s Community Investment Scheme, The BMECP is promoting organ donation awareness and the organ donation law change to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities in Brighton and Hove! 

 

• Register your organ donation decision NOW at 

Why is the law change important for the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities?

1. People from Black and Asian communities are more likely to need a transplant:

• People from Black and Asian communities are more likely to develop high blood pressure, diabetes and certain forms of hepatitis than white people. These conditions make them more likely to need a transplant.
• 32% of patients waiting for a kidney are from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities! 

2. Ethnicity matters in organ donation:

• For many patients in need of a transplant the best match will come from a donor from the same ethnic background. Kidney donors and recipients are matched by blood group and tissue type, and people from the same ethnic background are more likely to have matching blood groups and tissue types.
• Black, Asian and minority ethnic patients often have to wait significantly longer for a successful match than white patients, due to a shortage of suitably matched donors.
• If more people with these Black, Asian and Minority backgrounds donated their organs after death, or as a living donor, then transplant waiting times would reduce.

 

• Register your organ donation decision NOW at 

Resources for making an informed decision:

• Detailed information on the “opt-out” law change: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/uk-laws/organ-donation-law-in-england/

• Facts Sheets in languages other than English (Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Somali, Mandarin, Polish, Arabic, Bengali and many more…): https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/uk-laws/organ-donation-law-in-england/resources-and-downloads/

• Organ Donation and Faith: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/helping-you-to-decide/your-faith-and-beliefs/

How are families involved in organ donation?

 

Call to Action!

• Talk to your loved ones about organ donation

• Register your organ donation decision NOW at 

• Intergenerational Health Awareness Project 2.0 Final Report – Read here

• If you would like to be involved in promoting organ donation please contact projects@bmecp.org.uk