Victorian organ donations rising as hundreds of donors save lives

More than 500 Australians have already donated their ­organs upon death this year in what could be a record year of transplants, saving the lives of more than 1400 people.

More than 500 Australians have already donated their ­organs upon death this year in what could be a record year of transplants that has saved the lives of more than 1400 people.

Victoria has led the increase with 586 organs transplanted from 178 donors into 495 recipients in the biggest year ever for the state.

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The latest national figures from the Australian and New Zealand Organ Donation Registry show that as of the end of November, each of the 509 ­donors has saved an average of three people.

There were 510 donors ­nationally last year, including 148 Victorians, who kept 389 people alive.

Rachel Wilson, 24, got a new kidney earlier this year after waiting almost three years. Picture: Mark Stewart

The peak donation awareness body, DonateLife, has credited the increase to technological advances allowing more organs to be used, greater awareness of the need for organs and reforms in hospitals to better identify ­potential donors.

“It’s a combination of many years of hard work,” Donate­Life Victorian state medical ­director and intensivist Dr Rohit D’Costa said.

“We know that we’re a generous community. This is ­reflected in an increased consent rate among families now compared to 10 years ago.

“Routine referrals are another thing that has helped in terms of assessing every single potential donor at end of life.

“It’s also about continuing to push boundaries in terms of technology to potentially increase the pool of donors.”

This year, of the 509 deceased organ donors, 342 had been multi-organ donations.

Most of the 1422 total recipients needed a new kidney (845), followed by a lung (392), liver (275), heart (119), pancreas (43) and just one received a new stomach and ­intestines.

Rachel Wilson now has a new lease on life. Picture: Mark Stewart

But Dr D’Costa said with just one in five potential ­donors actually registered and 1409 Australians waiting for an organ transplant, there was still much to do.

“There is still a myth out there that if it’s on your driver’s licence, you’re registered,” he said. “Now it’s a centralised system run through Medicare, but the online registration is the simplest way to do it.”

Rachel Wilson, 24, has been saved this year after waiting almost three years for a kidney.

She had one cystic kidney removed as a newborn and the other suffered damage in surgery, meaning a transplant was inevitable.

Ms Wilson’s remaining kidney started to shut down in her early 20s, forcing her on to dialysis.

Now it will be possible to start a family one day.

“It’s so wonderful they had the foresight to become an organ donor, but it also breaks my heart,” she said. “They’ve given me a lease on life so I’m eternally grateful.”

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