Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington has been recognized with a provincial award for its commitment to supporting organ and tissue donation. The hospital received the Provincial Eligible Approach Rate award from the Trillium Gift of Life Network for the 2024-25 period, highlighting its success in facilitating important discussions with patients and their families regarding end-of-life donation options.
During that time, the hospital achieved a 100 per cent eligible approach rate. This metric ensures that when donation is a possibility, families are given the opportunity to have a compassionate and timely conversation with the care team. Through these efforts, the hospital supported one organ donor, which led to five organs being transplanted and four lives being saved. Additionally, there were 24 tissue donors at the facility during the same period.
This achievement places the hospital among 50 partners across Ontario honored with a Trillium Gift of Life Network Hospital Achievement Award, marking the largest number of hospitals recognized in the program’s history. According to health officials, one organ donor can save up to eight lives, while a single tissue donor can improve the lives of as many as 75 people. Currently, approximately 1,662 people in Ontario are on a transplant waitlist.
Burlington residents have shown a strong commitment to this cause, with a 41 per cent organ donor registration rate, exceeding the provincial average of 35 per cent. This represents 71,087 registered donors out of 174,595 local health card holders. This latest recognition follows a previous honour the hospital received in 2018-19 for its work in integrating donation services into quality end-of-life care.
Provincially, the impact of these hospital programs is significant. In 2024-25, 339 organ donors across Ontario enabled 1,053 transplants, saving 836 lives, while 2,077 tissue donors helped many others. The provincial agency continues to encourage more Ontarians to register their consent as, despite the need, only 35 per cent of eligible residents are currently registered.
