OLDHAM health workers are among others from across Greater Manchester getting on their bikes today as part of an organ donation campaign.

They will cycle the route donated organs take from The Royal Oldham Hospital to Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) for life-saving operations as part of the #jointhejourney campaign.

The ride to mark Organ Donation Week which concludes on Sunday, includes doctors, nurses and others, are cycling the route taking symbolic organs to the transplant centre at MRI.

They are Northern Care Alliance NHS Group (NCA), which brings together Salford Royal NHS foundation Trust and The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

The cyclists will wear special Organ Donation Week branded jerseys and will be waved off by Oldham Care Organisation Medical Director, Dr Jawad Hussain, and other staff members, from The Royal Oldham Hospital main entrance at 10am.

Their next stop will be at 11.20am at Whitworth Park in Salford, where they will join up with colleagues from Salford Care Organisation before heading off to MRI.

On arrival at the MRI transplant centre, there will we be celebrations, as the cycle team hands the symbolic organs to members of the transplant team.

In 2018/19, from 12 consented donors, Oldham, Bury & Rochdale, and North Manchester care organisations facilitated seven organ donors, resulting in 13 patients receiving a life-saving or life-changing transplant (data obtained from the UK Transplant Registry).

In addition to these seven donors, there were five consented donors that did not go ahead.

Dr Andy Drummond, consultant in intensive care and anaesthesia, and clinical lead for organ donation, said:

“Organ Donation is a normal part of end of life care in intensive care, and it is important that we respect patient’s wishes at the end of their lives. The legislation regarding organ donation consent is changing in April 2020, and the most important thing people can do, is to consider what their own wishes would be, and pass on their decision to their relatives and friends who can then speak on their behalf.”