Organ Donation New Zealand release Annual Report

The total number of New Zealanders receiving an organ transplant rose from 175 in 2013 to 214 in 2014, a 22 per cent increase.

ODNZ’s Clinical Director, Dr Stephen Streat said, “We would like to sincerely thank the families who generously agreed to organ and tissue donation in 2014 and thereby provided recipients and their families with the benefits of organ and tissue transplantation.

“ODNZ also thanks doctors, nurses and other health professionals in intensive care units and operating rooms at donor hospitals for their commitment to donation.”

There has also been an increase in kidney donation from live donors, from an average of 56 per year over the last decade to 72 in 2014.

The National Renal Transplantation Service’s Clinical Director, Dr Nick Cross said, “The increase in live kidney donation in 2014 alongside the increase in deceased kidney donation is tremendous news.

“Along with the commitment and generosity of the donors and their families, this reflects the work of a diverse and extremely dedicated group of health professionals in referrals and transplantation, and the strong support of DHBs and the Ministry of Health to live kidney donation and transplantation.

“In New Zealand, there were 138 kidney transplants performed in 2014, more than ever before.”