An NHS nurse who devoted her life to caring for others has continued to save lives even after her death through organ donation. Pauline Thornton, 62, who worked for Hull University Teaching Hospitals for 42 years, donated her heart, kidneys, and liver after suffering a brain haemorrhage in February. Her selfless act has given four people a new lease on life.
A Life of Service
Pauline began her nursing career in Hull in 1984, working as a scrub nurse in the theatres at Hull Royal Infirmary. She later became the charge nurse in the Centenary building at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham. Despite taking flexible retirement in 2019, she continued to work as a scrub nurse in paediatric theatres at Hull Women and Children's Hospital. She also volunteered for Hull Help for Refugees, sharing produce from her allotment with colleagues.
Her daughter, Claire Thornton, who is also a nurse in Hull, said: "Mum showed generosity her whole life. Even in death, she was able to help others. We are so proud of the kindness she showed."
Family's Hope to Raise Awareness
Claire hopes that sharing her mother's story will encourage more people to consider organ donation. She said: "It can feel like an incredibly difficult decision at the worst moment of a family's life, but knowing your loved one's wishes can bring comfort and clarity. The Organ Donation and ICU team at Hull Royal were compassionate and supportive throughout the entire process. We know mum would have been so proud to have saved the lives of four people and helped many others, despite her sudden and untimely passing."
Staff from the hospital are planning to climb Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough to raise funds for the NHS Blood and Transplant Charity and Hull Help for Refugees, in memory of Pauline.
Support from Organ Donation Team
Janine Tate, a specialist nurse in organ donation at Hull United Teaching Hospitals, was with Pauline's family when they made the decision to donate. She said: "They knew it was what Pauline would have wanted. She spent a lifetime helping others. I'll be joining them for the third climb. We are so grateful to Pauline and her family for all they have done – and are still doing – to support organ donation."
Legacy of the Mirror's Change the Law for Life Campaign
The Mirror's Change the Law for Life campaign led to the introduction of an opt-out system for organ donation in England in May 2020. This law presumes that people are donors unless they opt out, though consent from loved ones is always sought. New methods, such as organ perfusion, pioneered in Newcastle upon Tyne, could enable up to 750 extra life-saving transplants annually, including 202 liver transplants, up to 202 lung transplants, and up to 345 kidney transplants. This follows the example of Spain, which is considered the gold standard for transplantation.
For more information on organ donation, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk.
