Organ harvest plan for South West

Bunbury could become the hub of life-saving organ retrievals in the region if the idea wins the approval of the State’s leading organ donation organisation.

DonateLife WA has started considering whether — with the increasing quality of resources in regional areas — organ retrieval procedures could be done in regional hospitals such as Bunbury Hospital.

DonateLife WA State medical director Bruce Powell said the increasing awareness of organ donations and the organ register made it a perfect time to start considering the possibilities of extending the program regionally.

“When DonateLife first started, there was only enough funding to put into hospitals already doing organ retrievals,” Dr Powell said.

“The level of care being provided in regional hospitals like Bunbury and Albany makes the possibility of organ retrieval a logical thing to look at.”

Dr Powell said he hoped organ donations would be happening at major regional hospitals within two years.

DonateLife will soon begin speaking with hospitals to see what resources they have and what they would need to make organ retrieval possible.

“It may come down to the decision of the individual hospital, some may be able to do it and some may not,” Dr Powell said.

He said making organ retrieval available in regional areas had many benefits.

In addition to the increase in the number of organs available for donation, organ retrieval in regional areas would honour last wishes.

“In amidst talking about organ retrieval, we have to remember there is a tragedy going on,” Dr Powell said.

“Being able to retrieve organs on-site would mean more to the family because their loved one wouldn’t have to be moved to Perth for the operation to take place.”

Dr Powell said the geography involved with organ retrieval was also something DonateLife would have to consider.

“You do have to think about how you’ll transfer the organ from the hospital,” he said.

Dr Powell said from a business point-of-view, there would be benefits in making more organs available.

“Dialysis costs about $100,000 a year, so retrieving two kidneys would save $200,000 and make a difference to two people’s lives,” he said.