To celebrate National Transplant week, PHT has joined forced with the University of Portsmouth and NHS Blood and Transplant service to promote the message ‘in their final hours they gave a lifetime’.

A few months ago we approached University art students to produce a piece of artwork that we could display in our hospital as a memorial and to show our appreciation of people who have donated organs to others at the end of their life.

Despite the thousands of life-saving transplant operations which take place every year, some 7,500 people are on the waiting list for a transplant in theUK. This means that three people die every day whilst they wait for organs in the UK.

The art unveiling took place on 11 July and was well attended by staff, as well as donors and their families. 96% of people would take an organ if needed, however only 27% of the population have joined the Organ Donor Register.

Matthew Williams, Consultant in Critical Care, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust says: "We are delighted to be supporting National Transplant Week 2012, and we hope the week encourages more people to become donors and ‘pass it on’ to loved ones. “We wanted to set up a locally recognised project specifically so that families and friends could appreciate the gift that their partners/family members had left for others. By working with the University, we feel we have achieved that goal and hope it increases awareness of organ donation."

“If you join the ODR tell the people closest to you. Otherwise, your wishes may come as a surprise at a time when they are trying to deal with their loss. This could affect their decision to proceed with a life-saving donation. To add your name to the ODR please call 0300 123 2323, text JOIN 84880 or visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk.”

David Shute, Assistant Director of transplant support services for NHS Blood and Transplant commented: "The artwork is a testament to the hard work of the students as the artwork shows appreciation to the generous donations some people make at the end of their life. Anything that raises awareness of organ donation is a good thing."