THIRTEEN people from Oxfordshire who saved lives through organ donation have been posthumously honoured.

They received the Order of St John award for organ donation, run in conjunction with NHS Blood and Transplant, which was given to their families and loved ones on their behalf during a ceremony at Pembroke College, Oxford.

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More than 4,000 people donated their organs after death in 2019, 2020 and 2021, leading to around 10,000 patients' lives being saved or transformed over those three years. 

Thousands of families are receiving the award across the UK this year, at regional ceremonies or privately.

Anthony Clarkson, director of organ and tissue donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “The pride families feel at these moving ceremonies truly is inspirational.

“Transplant patients tell us that organ donors and their families are heroes and the Order of St John award is a chance for us all to recognise them and their amazing contribution to society.

 

 

“We hope these awards will inspire other people in Oxfordshire to tell their families they want to save lives.

“Being clear with your family about what you want makes things easier at a difficult time, leave them certain about your organ donation decision.

“Families say donation is a source of pride that helps them in their grief and we want to ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to donate and save lives.”

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Mick Messinger, Chancellor of the Priory of England and the Islands of the Order of St John, said: “We’re delighted to be able to work with NHS Blood and Transplant to run the Order of St John Awards for Organ Donation again.

“It is so important to recognise all organ donors and it is an inspiration to meet the families attending the ceremonies.

“Organ donation saves lives, and it is a genuine privilege to be able to say thank you to these families, whose loved ones have had such an impact on others.”

For more information about organ donation, or to register your organ donation decision, please visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.

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NHS app users can also use the service to record, check or update their organ donation decision.

From May 2020, all adults in England are considered to have consented to be an organ donor when they die unless they had recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups.

Adults covered by the change will still have a choice whether they want to be an organ donor and their families will still be involved before organ donation goes ahead.

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This story was written by Anna Colivicchi, she joined the team this year and covers health stories for the Oxfordshire papers. 

Get in touch with her by emailing: Anna.colivicchi@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @AnnaColivicchi