Organ donations from patients who passed away at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Calderdale Royal Hospital have reached an all time high to buck the national trend.
Nationwide the levels of organ donors fell for the first time in 11 years.
NHS Blood and Transplant service figures published last month reveal 111 West Yorkshire residents have died waiting for a transplant in the past five years.
There are currently more than 350 people in the county waiting for a transplant.
In 2013/14 Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust found nine donors from deaths at its two hospitals, resulting in 25 transplants.
Figures for 2014/15 show an improvement to 10 donors with a total of 42 patients benefitting from transplants.
Levels have been boosted thanks to training for doctors and nurses on how to address the difficult issue of asking grieving families for consent. Clinical staff practice using actors as family members to gain experience of best practice.
Transplant Specialist Nurse Jayne Greenhalgh said: “It’s been our best year to date for supporting families through the consent process and enabling their loved ones to become donors.
“This year, this meant that 10 local people were able to have their wishes fulfilled to become donors and save or enhance the lives of others. This is the highest number locally in a year.
“The donors have resulted in 18 kidney transplants, six liver, one pancreas, 14 corneal grafts, one double lung transplant, one heart valve donation and one skin donation.
“The trust has an empathic and professional team which supports families closely to ensure their loved ones wishes are achieved.
“In very, very difficult times we know this means a lot to families.
“However, only a very small number of patients can become organ donors so the more people who register and tell their families of their wishes the more lives can be saved or enhanced. There are still hundreds of people on the waiting list.”
Officials working to save the lives of people who need transplants have urged families to have the conversation about their death bed wishes.
Currently, four out of 10 families don’t give permission to donate when approached.
Sally Johnson, NHS Blood and Transplant’s director of organ donation and transplantation, said: “We are truly grateful to the deceased donors who enabled 353 people in West Yorkshire to receive an organ transplant last year.
“Their donations have saved and improved lives. Sadly, 111 people from West Yorkshire have died while on the transplant waiting list in the past five years.
“We cannot hope to save more lives unless there is a revolution in attitudes towards organ donation.
“We need everyone to talk about organ donation with their families and agree to donate if ever they are asked.
“We understand that families are expected to consider donation in their darkest hour.
“So we would remind everyone — tell those closest to you now if you want to donate your organs and record that decision by joining the 670,428 people from West Yorkshire who are already on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
“Should the time come, your family will know you want to donate your organs to help to save others.”
To join the NHS Organ Donor Register visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 2323.
