Organ donation hits new high

Australia's organ donation bodies have marked 2010 as a major win as the number of
life-saving transplants climb to a record.
The Australian and New Zealand Organ Donation Registry (ANZOD) and the Organ and
Tissue Authority (OTA) jointly released the donor and transplant figures for the
year, which show an historic high.
ANZOD chair Professor Graeme Russ said the generosity of 309 donors and their
families has saved or significantly improved the lives of 931 Australians during
2010.
"This is the highest annual total of transplants in Australia's donation and
transplantation history, and well exceeds the 846 and 799 recipients in 2008 and
2009, respectively," Professor Russ said in a statement released on Tuesday.
The 309 deceased people who donated their organs over the year represented a "56 per
cent increase - an additional 111 donors - if compared to the 198 deceased organ
donors in 2007", Prof Russ said.
It also equated to 13.8 donors per million Australians during 2010, well up on the
annual average of 10.2 donors per million (205 donors a year) seen from 2000 to
2008.
The Australian Government introduced a suite of reforms during 2009 designed to
boost donor rates, and the figures for 2010 represent their first full year under
the new regime.
"With 2010 being the Organ and Tissue Authority's first full year of operation, this
is a significant result," said OTA National Medical Director Dr Gerry O'Callaghan.
"It shows that the Australian Government reform program is delivering significant
outcomes."
Most states and territories recorded an increase in their rate of organ donations
during 2010.
Tasmania had the highest outcome (19.7 donors per million), followed by South
Australia (18.8), Victoria (17.7), the ACT (17.3), NSW (12.4), Queensland (10.8), WA
(9.6) and Northern Territory (8.7).
The federal government committed $151 million over four years to its national reform
package to boost organ and tissue donation.
Initiatives rolled out during 2010 included a new network of clinical staff - over
150 doctors and nurses located in 74 major hospitals nationwide - dedicated to
improving organ donation and raise awareness in their hospitals.
A DonateLife advertising campaign was also launched and it called on intending organ
donors to speak about their decision with their family.
"This is because family consent is always sought before donation can proceed," Dr
O'Callaghan said.
"There is much more to be done however these results are a credit to all involved,
including the frontline work of our clinical staff and DonateLife Agencies around
the country."
The most commonly transplant organ during 2010 was the kidney (548 transplanted)
followed by the liver, lung then heart.



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