Sister Fiona Wilkinson says donation helps families grieve

Those agreeing to donations have increased by 700% at the Royal Bolton Hospital since Fiona Wilkinson was appointed donor liaison sister.

It is an improvement the trust scarcely hoped possible when they set up a new team, borrowing ideas from Spain - which now carries out the highest number of organ transplants in the world.

One of the relatives approached was Jack Martin whose wife Lil died last month, and Ms Wilkinson asked if he was willing to donate his wife's organs.

Jack Martin agreed to donate his wife Lil's organs

"We had spoken about it a few times but never done anything positive about it so I said yes," Mr Martin said.

Asking grieving families such a painful question is something British medics have often struggled with, according to Ms Wilkinson.

"As carers we want people to feel better and I think the belief - and the myth - has been out there that we may make these families feel worse in their grief.

"However all the evidence and research shows that it is actually something positive for these families to hold on to."