Buildings go pink in drive for organ donation

Local landmarks including Hull City Hall will be lit up

Landmarks across the region will be lit up in pink to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.

It is part of a national campaign in memory of more than 400 people who died last year while waiting for a transplant, and to encourage people to confirm their decision on the NHS organ donor register.

Buildings including Grimsby Minster, the clock tower at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in the town, and the main entrance at Scunthorpe General Hospital will be illuminated, as well as buildings in Queen Victoria Square, Hull.

Organ Donation Week runs until 28 September.

Dr Harish Lad, clinical lead for organ donation at NHS Humber Health Partnership, said: "I am sure they will look fabulous but, more importantly, will get people asking questions.

"Sadly, many opportunities to save lives are lost every year in our region and around the country [because] not enough people are registered as organ donors."

According to the NHS, 20 families consented to organ donation between April last year and August this year across the Humber area.

However, it said the campaign would help to "get the conversation started" among more people.

Meanwhile, Anthony Clarkson, director of organ donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, urged people to confirm their decision on the register.

"We need people across Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire to take two minutes to save up to nine lives," he said.

"This could be the difference between life and death for someone else."

Other initiatives in support of the campaign will include a Hull nurse running her first ultra-marathon, the unveiling of a new flower bed at Hull Royal Infirmary, and Scunthorpe United displaying information on their digital scoreboard on match days.

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