Historic First Organ Donation Successfully Carried Out At St Bernard’s Hospital

Minister Gemma Arias-Vasquez has confirmed that the first organ donation procedure in Gibraltar was successfully carried out at the GHA last week.

A statement from the Government follows below:

The Minister for Health, Care and Business, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, has confirmed that the first organ donation procedure in Gibraltar was successfully carried out at the GHA last week,  marking a historic moment for the GHA and for Gibraltar’s health service. 

The Gibraltar Health Authority wishes to express its profound gratitude to Mr Juan Jesus Vecino,  known to many as “Susi”, and to his family for their incredibly generous and courageous decision  to donate his organs. In the midst of their own loss, their selfless act will now go on to save and  transform lives. 

The procedure was delivered through close collaboration between the GHA and a specialist  transplant team that flew in from the United Kingdom to support local clinicians and staff. This  donation forms part of a formal pathway established between the GHA and NHS Blood and  Transplant under Gibraltar’s reciprocal healthcare arrangements, which also ensure that  Gibraltarians remain entitled to organ transplantation services within the NHS. 

Following Mr Vecino’s passing, his organs were successfully retrieved at St Bernard’s Hospital and  blue lighted to the airport before being flown to the UK for transplantation. As a result of this  successful procedure, the GHA is now putting everything in place to be able to carry out such  donations in the future. 

Organ donation saves lives. A single donor can save and transform up to nine lives, and registering  takes just two minutes. Members of the public are encouraged to record their decision on the NHS  Organ Donor Register and, just as importantly, to discuss their wishes with their families.  Registration is available at: 

https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/ 

The Minister for Health, Care and Business, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, said: “This was a historic moment for the GHA and for Gibraltar, and I want to place on record my  sincere thanks to every member of the brilliant GHA team involved in this donation.

“I have spoken personally to Susi’s family, and I want to extend once again my deepest  condolences to them. In the midst of unimaginable loss, they made a decision of profound  generosity that will now go on to save and transform lives.

“As a lasting mark of respect, the GHA will, in the coming weeks, install a plaque in Susi’s memory  so that this first donation may always be remembered.”