Teachers can give pupils a voice on the organ donation ‘opt out’ consultation after surge in interest

Teachers are being urged to use organ donation teaching resources to help pupils contribute to the government’s consultation into an ‘opt out’ organ donation system.

NHS Blood and Transplant developed the education pack for 11-16 year olds - for use in PSHE or science lessons - to provoke interest and debate in the lifesaving topic of organ donation. Since the opt out consultation was launched, six times as many people have viewed the teaching resources, showing a surge in interest in how organ donation works (1).

The Department of Health is running the consultation until March 6 and the resources are a way to discuss current news and give young people a voice on topic that has provoked nationwide interest and debate. The consultation was launched in December and under the Government’s proposed opt out organ consultation system, you would be a donor unless you don’t want to donate.

There are currently 6,296 people on the transplant waiting list including 148 children. Around 20% of the people on the NHS Organ Donor Register are aged 16 to 20. However, NHS Blood and Transplant surveys show that while three quarters of 18-24 year olds in England support organ donation in principle, the levels of support are lower than for other age groups. The resources have received positive feedback from schools, and to date there have been more than 10,000 downloads from the NHS Blood and Transplant website page and YouTube channel.

Sally Johnson, NHS Blood and Transplant Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation, said:

“This education pack gives young people the facts so that they can take part in the national conversation on organ donation.

“Most opt out systems don't cover children and young people but this is an area where they will need to be equipped to make a decision as they approach adulthood.

“We hope that this will not only make them think about what they would want to do themselves but it will also start discussions with their own families and friends. A few words now can make an extraordinary difference.”

Health and Social Care minister Jackie Doyle-Price said:

“Over a thousand young people are currently waiting for a life-saving organ, so the earlier we start this dialogue the more lives it could transform in years to come.

“I would urge teachers and pupils across England to take this opportunity to share their thoughts on organ donation before March 6.”

The resources feature personal stories, including that of Izzy Sewell, aged 20, from Poole in Dorset, who had a kidney transplant this month due to polycystic kidney disease. Izzy, who is favour of an opt-out system, said:

“If the people want to opt out they can, and allow the other millions of people to save lives.

“Making it opt out would also raise awareness so that more people think about what they would actually want.” 

“I think one of the hardest things about waiting is the not knowing. Constantly waiting is a huge anxiety.”

The pack is aimed at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 students (11 to 16 year-olds) in England, and includes lesson plans and materials linked to the Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) National Curriculum. It includes three lesson plans, each around 45 to 60 minutes, carefully linked to the PSHE National Curriculum. Resources include videos recorded with donor families and transplant patients, and take home fact sheets to facilitate conversations at home.

The pack is now available as a free digital download

Ends

• For more information contact Stephen Bailey on 0151 268 7017 or stephen.bailey@nhsbt.nhs.uk
• Or contact the NHS Blood and Transplant press office on 01923 367600 or via pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk
• For out of hours enquiries please call: 0117 969 2444

Press release notes

1. Between December 12th 2017 and January 24th 2018 the reaching resources had 978 views. Between December 12th 2016 and January 24th 2017 had 155 views.

Notes to editors

• NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority. Its remit includes the provision of a reliable, efficient supply of blood and associated services to the NHS in England. It is also the organ donor organisation for the whole of the UK and is responsible for matching and allocating donated organs.
• Around 24 million people in the UK have already signed onto the NHS Organ Donor Register. These people have joined the Register to record their decision to donate organs and/or tissue after their death for transplantation. This information is used by authorised medical staff to establish whether a person wanted to donate.
• It’s clear that young people can make a difference and under 21s already make up nearly a quarter of people signed up on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
• It is quick and easy to join the NHS Organ Donor Register. Visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or contact our 24 hour a day donor line - 0300 123 23 23.