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PRESS RELEASE: 10th July 2006 You don’t have to be a hero to save lives
Wendy Smeeton as Wonder Woman and Paul Robinson as Superman release the balloons Staff at Addenbrooke’s are spreading the message that ‘You don’t have to be a hero to save lives’ during National Transplant Week (9-15 July). The week of publicity and events aims to actively promote organ and tissue donation for transplantation, and celebrate the lives that have been saved by the gift of organ donation. The Addenbrooke’s transplant team is running a series of events throughout the week, starting with a balloon release on Parker’s Piece, Cambridge, on Monday 10 July, with staff dressed in ‘hero’ outfits to reflect the theme (shown above). Other activities will include a photo display at the hospital of people who have had transplants and have gone on to lead full lives, and information stands throughout the week at the hospital and the Grafton Centre. Mr Chris Watson, consultant transplant surgeon, said: “We want people to know that potentially anyone can save a life by signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register. The week’s activities are a great way to get this message across, so we would urge the public to come along to our displays and find out more about how organ donation can transform lives.” Addenbrooke's is a world leader in transplant surgery, with the transplant unit playing an important role in the research and evolution of clinical transplantation over the last 40 years. Some of its achievements include the first liver transplant outside the USA in 1968, the world's first combined heart, lung and liver transplant with Papworth NHS Trust in 1986 and the first small bowel transplant in the UK in 1992. Four different types of transplants are performed at the hospital - liver and kidney transplantation (the two most common procedures) and combined pancreas and kidney transplantation and intestinal transplantation. Last year, 64 liver transplants, 74 kidney transplants and seven combined pancreas and kidney transplants were performed at Addenbrooke's. Information displays for the public will be in the following locations from 1000-1600:
Anyone can join the NHS Organ Donor Register by telephoning the Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400 or by visiting www.uktransplant.org.uk For further press/media information contact: PR & Communications Department, Box 53, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ; Tel: 01223 274 433; Fax: 01223 257 143; Minicom: 01223 274 604. |
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