The role of the Specialist Nurse Organ Donation in maximising cardiothoracic organ donation: A narrative review

Abstract

In the United Kingdom over 7000 people are on the transplant waiting list and about three people are estimated to die per day whilst waiting. Deceased organ donation continues to see significant progress. Following the Organ Donation Taskforce Report the number of deceased organ donors nearly doubled from 809 (2007/08) to 1,5980 (2019/20) and the number of transplants from these donors has increased by 58% from 2,384 to 3,760 but a disparity between the number of organ donors and those on the transplant waiting list remains. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of the collective works of multi-disciplinary professionals involved in the UK organ donation pathway and assess the challenges faced by the Specialist Nurse Organ Donation in maximising cardiothoracic organ donation. NHS Blood and Transplant promote a pioneering culture of research and innovation and for donation opportunities to be maximised the Specialist Nurse needs to take a dynamic approach to exploring donation decisions, and support changes to the pathway that drive sustainability in retrieval. Continuous evolution in the management and strong leadership of the organ donation pathway is required to meet the need of end stage organ failure patients waiting for a transplant and for the best possible care to be provided to our donors and their families.