THE number of organs being transplanted and donated increased last year.

Figures for 2016/17, published by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), show that in Wales, the number of donors after brain stem death increased by four, from 36 in 2015/16 to 40 in 2016/17.

There was also:

• An increase of one in the number of patients living in Wales who received a heart transplant;

• An increase of five in the number of patients in Wales who received a live kidney transplant;

• A decrease of 18.5 per cent in patients who died while on the waiting list for a transplant - from 27 in 2015/16 to 22 in 2016/17.

Welcoming the data, Health secretary Vaughan Gething, said: “These figures are encouraging, but while there are people dying while on a waiting list for their transplant we must work harder.

“I want to encourage everyone across Wales to talk with their loved ones about their organ donation decision. While we know awareness and understanding is increasing, it’s really important the Welsh public share their decision with their family.

“It’s good to see the data for Wales is moving in the right direction and the number of people in the UK known to be alive thanks to organ transplants has broken the 50,000 mark. It was also positive to see Organ Donation and Transplantation data for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic being published by NHSBT as a supplementary report.

“I was pleased to hear the recent news that England are considering following our and Scotland’s lead by introducing a soft opt out system of organ and tissue donation.

“We were proud, back in 2015, to be the first country in the UK to do this and are pleased with what we’ve achieved so far. We believe the benefits of a soft opt out organ donation system to those needing a transplant are literally, life changing.”