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Home > Ministers > The Hon Catherine King MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing > Media Hub > Western Australian Organ and Tissue Donors Contribute to National Donor Growth

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PDF printable version of Western Australian Organ and Tissue Donors Contribute to National Donor Growth (PDF 38 KB)

10 November 2011

West Australians have been thanked today by the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King, for their part in increasing the nation’s rate of organ and tissue donation.

Ms King today met with staff at the Perth Bone and Tissue Bank and DonateLife Western Australia staff at the Royal Perth Hospital to discuss the implementation of the Government’s $151 million National Reform Agenda to increase organ and tissue donation for transplantation.

“The 2011 year-to-date result of 26 organ donors in Western Australia represents the highest donation outcome in the State since national records began – a 30% increase compared with the same period (January – October) in 2010,” Ms King said.

The 2011 Western Australian year-to-date deceased organ donation outcomes build on the 16% increase achieved in 2010 compared to 2009 – and the 5% increase in 2010 over the baseline of 21 donors (average 2000-2008). The number of Australians who received life-saving and life-changing transplants from Western Australian organ donors increased by 27% over the same period in 2010 with 80 transplant recipients compared to 63 transplant recipients at October 2010.

“The increase in donors achieved by Western Australia in the year-to-date has contributed to the national growth in donor numbers,” Ms King said.

Ms King also 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 outcome of 286 deceased solid donors and its highest transplant recipient outcome of 849 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 more information, contact the Parliamentary Secretary’s Office 02 6277 4230

Additional Information

As at end October 2011, there were 286 deceased solid organ donors nationally compared with 258 deceased solid organ donors for the same period in 2010 representing an 11% increase.

This year to date, the number of transplant recipients has increased to 849 transplant recipients compared with 783 for the same period in 2010 representing a 8% 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.