The families of Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) patients who gave the ultimate gift of life through organ donation have been honoured at an award ceremony in Birmingham.

A new award has been created by international healthcare charity the Order of St John alongside NHS Blood and Transplant. It is presented to the families and loved ones of those who saved and improved people’s lives through organ donation.

Hundreds of donor families have been attending regional ceremonies across the UK to receive the award in memory of their loved ones.

More than 30 such families were presented with awards during a private ceremony at Villa Park, with 13 of the donors having their organs removed for transplant at QEHB.

Dr Steffen Kroll, Clinical Lead for Organ Donation at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), who attended the event, said: “Recognition of donor families was one of the recommendations of the organ donation task force.

“It is important that they are recognised for the gift which their loved ones have made because every organ donor can transform the lives of up to half a dozen people.

“This is in the context of three patients a day who are dying in the UK while waiting for a transplant.”

Among the relatives receiving the award in Birmingham on behalf of their loved ones was Minnette Scott from Smethwick, whose daughter Alecia, 39, died in 2012 following a sudden brain aneurysm, and Jayne Mitchell from Yardley, Birmingham, whose husband Alan suffered a brain seizure earlier this year.

Mrs Mitchell said of the award: “It is a very good thing because it is raising awareness and helping to save people’s lives.

“In a horrible, horrible time for us as a family, it is the only bright spot. It is the only silver lining that he saved lives through donating his organs, and this is validation for us.”

The awards were presented by the Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Mr Paul Sabapathy, and the Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Mr Timothy Cox.

Mr Sabapathy said the donor families had been “truly admirable” in donating the organs of their loved ones: “You have helped transform the lives of many people and made a huge difference to other families by the actions you have taken. I can’t think of a greater gift than to save someone else’s life.”

His words were echoed by the Reverend John Davis from the Order of St John, who said: “With thousands of people in the UK in need of a transplant, we felt it was important to say thank you to the families whose loved ones have already donated their organs.

“These families are an inspiration to all. With around three people dying every day due to the shortage of organs, we hope these families’ pride will encourage many more to follow in their footsteps and agree to become an organ donor.”

Between April 2012 and March 2013, the families of 1,212 people in the UK agreed to donate their loved ones’ organs, leading to thousands of patients' lives being saved or transformed.

Sally Johnson, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "Losing a loved one is devastating to family and friends. We hope receiving this new award will mean a great deal to those who have lost someone close to them and also give them renewed pride in their decision to agree to donation. The decision to donate their organs is an amazing legacy. We want everyone to be proud to donate.”

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register:

• visit the NHS Blood and Transplant organ donation website (see link below)
• call 0300 123 2323, or
• text SAVE to 62323