NHS Organ Donation Team Claim National Accolade

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is delighted to announce colleagues based at the University Hospital of Wales have won the Exceptional Promotion Initiative at the NHS Blood and Transplant / British Transplant Society Joint Congress Awards 2025.

Specialist Nurses Katie Edwards and Jenny Holmes from the South Wales Organ Donation Team, have received an award for their work in promoting organ donation and encouraging families to make their decision known.

The waiting list for transplants increases every year, now totalling more than 8,000 people including babies and children. Unfortunately, 2-3 people die each day whilst waiting for their life saving transplant.

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In the last few months in the University Hospital of Wales, there have been higher than expected donors compared to previous years, saving people across the country through the most generous and selfless gift anyone can make. 

Widely commended for their results of an over-industry average for engagement, Katie and Jenny won the Exceptional Promotion award for their collaboration with the elite ice hockey team The Cardiff Devils at Vindico Arena in Cardiff Bay.It was decided that a partnership with The Cardiff Devils would be perfect due to its 500,000 yearly visitors at Vindico Arena. The Cardiff Devils have been promoting the importance of ‘Making Your Decision Known’ via posters, their huge social media following, TV facing ice rink advertisement and lighting up the arena pink for Organ Donation Week. In addition, they have aired a video interview with a hockey fan who is a renal transplant recipient and also Jenny as a Specialist Nurse in organ donation. 

As a result of the partnership, the team has forged additional links with the Welsh Rugby Union and has displayed the promotion in Wales matches against England, Ireland and South Africa.   

Speaking on the award win, Specialist Nurses, Katie Edwards and Jenny Holmes said: “This award is a testament to the hard work of the whole team and The Cardiff Devils. We want to promote awareness of organ donation and for people to make their decisions known both on the organ donor register and with their loved ones. In turn this will help save lives”. Organ donation is a truly altruistic act and based on the goodwill of people during their final days. Since 2015, Wales has operated a Deemed consent legislation, where an individual is presumed to consent to organ donation upon death unless they have explicitly stated otherwise or are in an excluded group. Despite this, the support of families is crucial as they may override a decision. This is why we want everyone to talk to their loved ones and register their decision to donate.

It takes two minutes – less time than it takes to make a cup of tea – and this decision to donate could save up to nine people in the future.