Tissue Donors on Increase in Queensland

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PDF printable version of Tissue Donors on Increase in Queensland (PDF 38 KB)

4 November 2011

Ms King today visited the Queensland Bone and Skin Bank to meet with DonateLife Queensland staff including state-funded staff from the Queensland Bone and Skin Bank, Eye Bank and the Queensland Heart Valve Bank to discuss the implementation of the Government’s $151 million National Reform Agenda to increase organ and tissue donation for transplantation.

“At the end of October this year the Queensland Bone and Skin Bank had 90 tissue donors – an increase of over 80% for the same period in 2010. Similarly the Heart Valve Bank had 67 tissue donors - an increase of 26%.

“The 2011 year-to-date result of 53 organ donors in Queensland represents the highest donation outcome in the State since national records began – a 71% increase compared with the same period (January – September) in 2010,” Ms King said.

“The 2011 Queensland year-to-date deceased organ donation outcomes build on the 4% increase achieved in 2010 compared to 2009 – and the 20% increase in 2010 over the baseline of 41 donors (average 2000-2008). The number of Australians who received life-saving and life-changing transplants from Queensland organ donors increased by 69% over the same period in 2010 with 166 transplant recipients compared to 98 transplant recipients at September 2010.

Ms King acknowledged the work undertaken in the tissue banks to ensure compliance with the new TGA Biologicals Regulatory Framework. The Framework which was introduced in May this year will ensure that the highest standards in relation to eye and tissue donation and banking are consistently met.

Ms King said that Australia has this year achieved its highest organ donation rate of 254 deceased solid donors and its highest transplant recipient outcome of 763 transplant recipients for the same period in any year.

“This is an encouraging result but there is much more to be done to not only sustain but build on the increases in donation outcomes for both organs and tissue in Australia,” Ms King said.

For further information, contact the Parliamentary Secretary’s Office 02 6277 4230

Additional Information

As at end September 2011, there were 254 deceased solid organ donors nationally compared with 228 deceased solid organ donors for the same period in 2010 representing a 11% increase.

This year to date, the number of transplant recipients has increased to 763 transplant recipients compared with 683 for the same period in 2010 representing a 12% increase this year.

Australia’s continued growth in 2011 builds upon the 25% increase in national donation outcomes achieved in 2010 – and the 17% increase in transplant recipients achieved in 2010 over the 2009 calendar year.

As we work to normalise organ and tissue donation as part of end of life care in Australia, it is important that all Australians discover the facts about organ and tissue donation, make and register their informed decision on the Australian Organ Donor Register and, most importantly, discuss their donation wishes with family members.