Three million Ontarians are registered donors
Ontario on track for a record year for organ and tissue donation and transplant
TORONTO, Oct. 30, 2014 /CNW/ - New numbers released today at www.BeADonor.ca reveal that the organ and tissue donation registration rate in Ontario has now reached 26 per cent, compared to a 17 per cent donor registration rate just five years ago. The total number of registered donors in Ontario today is 3,029,097.
Between 2009 and 2014, Ontario organ donor registrations grew by 57 per cent (from 1.9 million to 3.0 million).
"This significant increase in donor registrations over a relatively short period of time is extraordinary," says Mr. Tom Mone, celebrated Chief Executive Officer of Southern California's OneLegacy, a leading U.S. organ procurement organization. "We appreciate the extraordinary effort, systems, and ultimately, the inspiring and compelling messaging that this impressive growth requires. We congratulate Trillium Gift of Life Network on this achievement."
Registration saves lives. With evidence of their loved one's registered consent, almost all families honour this donation decision. In the absence of registered consent, only 50 per cent of families consent to organ donation.
"Ontario has a world class donation and transplant system and our registry was built to mimic the most successful registries in the world, says Ronnie Gavsie, President and CEO of Trillium Gift of Life Network. "One in four people in Ontario are now registered donors. We have a lot to be proud of."
Between 2009 and today, 1,334 deceased Ontario organ donors have contributed to 5,697 lifesaving kidney, liver, lung, heart, pancreas and small bowel transplants. Just over 7,500 tissue donors enhanced the lives of thousands of patients, including corneas to restore sight, heart valves, bone and skin.
Though 2014 is on track to be a record year for donations and transplant, there are still over 1,500 people on the waiting list for a lifesaving organ because there are not enough donors to meet the demand. Every three days, one of those people will die waiting.
Trillium Gift of Life Network has been reporting registration rate by region on www.BeADonor.ca since 2012. Six cities now report rates of over 50 per cent: Lively, Garson, Hanmer, Val Caron, Parry Sound and North Bay. With Vaughan and Woodbridge both reaching rates of 10 per cent, Concord is now the only community in Ontario with a rate under 10 per cent.
Quick Facts:
- One donor can save up to eight lives and improve the lives of up to 75 others.
- It is very simple to register consent for organ and tissue donation in Ontario: at www.BeADonor.ca, at any ServiceOntario centre or by mail, download a copy of the consent form at www.giftoflife.on.ca.
- If you registered or updated your consent online between March 23, 2013 and September 19, 2014 you are still a registered donor. Due to a recent technical issue, Trillium Gift of Life Network has asked this group to please visit www.BeADonor.ca to update their registration to make sure their exclusion information is accurately recorded.
- The growth in registration in Ontario over four years has outpaced the U.S., a leading jurisdiction. According to the latest information available, between December 2009 and December 2013 Ontario's registration rate grew by 47 per cent compared to the US growth rate of 35 per cent.
- Communities with the most improved organ and tissue donor registration rates, from July 1, 2014 to September 30, 2014: Hawkesbury (7%), East/Central Prescott and Russell Utd City (6%), Russell (5%), Rockland (5%), and Orangeville (5%).
- To date, 865 individuals and 288 organizations have launched registration drives on www.BeADonor.ca to encourage their families, friends and colleagues to help save lives through organ and tissue donor registration.
Trillium Gift of Life Network is a not-for-profit agency of the Government of Ontario responsible for planning, promoting, coordinating and supporting organ and tissue donation for transplantation across Ontario and improving the system so that more lives can be saved.
SOURCE Trillium Gift of Life Network
Video with caption: "About the Trillium Gift of Life Network.". Video available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWdPfqT5yEo
Image with caption: "Cooler used to transfer organs for transplant. (CNW Group/Trillium Gift of Life Network)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141030_C4200_PHOTO_EN_7306.jpg
Image with caption: "Trillium Gift of Life Network. (CNW Group/Trillium Gift of Life Network)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141030_C4200_PHOTO_EN_7307.jpg
For further information: Leona Hollingsworth, Senior Media Relations Advisor, Trillium Gift of Life Network, (o) 416-619-2363, (c) 416-689-7711, lhollingsworth@giftoflife.on.ca