Organ Donation Week 2017: Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital chief executive signs up to Organ Donation Register to raise awareness

NNUH director of nursing Emma McKay marks the start of Organ Donation Week. Photo: NNUH (Image: NNUH)

Mark Davies, chief executive at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) said: 'Signing on to the register only takes a few minutes and you could save someone's life'.

During this week, teams at NNUH are encouraging staff, patients and the public to talk about organ donation with their relatives and friends to ensure they understand their loved one's wishes.

While waiting for their transplant at a specialist centre, many Norfolk patients receive their day-to-day healthcare, such as renal dialysis, either at NNUH or at Cromer Hospital.

Specialist nurse for organ donation Natalie Ashley, who is based at NNUH, said: 'This week especially we're encouraging everyone to have a chat with loved ones to understand their wishes about organ donation. That chat might be the next time you sit down for a meal, when you are shopping or working, or when you are just driving in the car. If you want to be a donor, your family's support is still needed for donation to go ahead, even if you are on the NHS Organ Donor Register.'

NNUH director of nursing Emma McKay marks the start of Organ Donation Week. Photo: NNUH (Image: NNUH)

She added: 'We're so pleased to see Mark Davies marking the week by signing on to the register and raising awareness of organ donation.'

NNUH staff mark the start of Organ Donation Week. Photo: NNUH (Image: NNUH)