One million store cardholders pledge to become organ donors?
A million people have now pledged their organs via the Advantage loyalty scheme of UK chemist chain Boots. UK Transplant, which oversees the NHS Organ Donor Register (ODR), said a million people had signed up via the retailer’s store card. New customers tick a box on the application form to register their wishes.
Seven times more women than men have signed up since the partnership was launched in 2000 and 89 people have donated their organs after death via the scheme. Hampshire has the highest total of Boots customers who have signed up to the register, while those aged 26 to 35 are the most likely to join when they apply for their card.
The millionth person to sign up was 29-year-old media planner Nicholas Clarkson from London.
He commented: “I want to live in a society where I would be able to expect to receive an organ should I ever need a transplant operation, so I should reciprocate by becoming an organ donor myself.”
The Boots scheme is one of the most popular routes for people to join the ODR after the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and when newly registering with a GP.
Each year, between 9% and 15% of new registrations are via Boots. UK Transplant head of communications, Maxine Walter, said: “I’d like to thank the one million Boots customers who have pledged this gift. Our research has shown that people like to be invited to join the ODR so this continuing partnership with Boots is invaluable.”