Organ donation

 
In 2008 the government commissioned a Taskforce to identify the reasons for poor organ donation rates in the UK. They produced 14 recommendations to achieve an increase in donation by 50% in five years.
 
In response to the recommendations there is a Specialist Nurse: Organ Donation (SN:OD) who works closely with the Clinical Lead for Organ Donation (CL:OD) in each trust to ensure comprehensive recognition and referral of all potential organ donors. 

The team

Nikki Walker has been in post since September 2009 as the (SN:OD) and John Hunter is the Clinical Lead for Organ Donation (CL:OD) at East Cheshire NHS Trust. The SN: OD is based in the Intensive Care Unit and works mainly in ICU, A&E and Theatres. Nikki Walker’s work as SN:OD also covers the Mid Cheshire Trust at Leighton Hospital and Crewe.

Our services

The trust supports organ and tissue donation and aims to give every family the option of donation where this is possible. The aim is for this to become a normal part of end of life care where the wishes of the individual are fulfilled. All patients, where appropriate, will be considered for suitability as a potential donor and referred to the Specialist Nurse: Organ Donation. The family will then be approached to discuss available options.
 
In order to achieve this the Specialist Nurse:Organ Donation will:

• Work with the medical and nursing teams in ICU, A&E and Theatres to promote awareness and optimise organ and tissue donation.
• Participate in the national Potential Donor Audit to identify potential for donation within each trust.
• Work with the CL:OD and the Trust Organ Donation Committee to develop policies and strategy for the trust using information gathered from audit data.
• Work closely with the senior nursing and medical staff to implement the strategies and policies drawn up.
• Initiate and participate in quality initiatives and formulate new clinical protocols and practices with the teams.
• Liaise with nursing and medical teams to provide education according to the needs of the units and departments eg study days and seminars.
• Facilitate the donation process and organise organ retrieval.
• Provide advice, guidance and support to colleagues and families.

Each SN:OD is also part of the network of Transplant Coordinators in the North West Region covering Merseyside, North Wales, Cheshire, Manchester, Lancashire and part of Cumbria and participates in on call arrangements across the region.

More information

Lisa Francis, Specialist Nurse:Organ Donation
ICU
Macclesfield District General Hospital
Victoria Road
Macclesfield
SK10 3BL
 
or
 
North West Donor Transplant Coordinators Office
National Blood Service
14 Estuary Banks
Speke
Liverpool
L24 8RB
 
Mobile: 07590352271
Speke office: 01512687210
Email: lisa.francis5@nhs.net  
Group Pager (24hours) 07659184748

Useful information

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