Organ donation falls nine per cent as people urged to register

NHSBT urges one million people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register <i>(Image: Getty Images)</i>
NHSBT urges one million people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register (Image: Getty Images)
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Organ donation rates are falling, prompting calls for urgent action to help save more lives.

NHS Blood and Transplant has announced an urgent response plan to address a significant and accelerating decline in organ donation and transplantation across the UK, with deceased donation rates now nine per cent lower than this time last year.

Anthony Clarkson, director of organ and tissue donation and transplantation at NHSBT, said: "We are facing one of the most challenging periods for organ donation in over a decade.

"Most of us would accept an organ if we needed one but opportunities to save lives are being lost because families didn’t know what their loved ones wanted. Leave them certain."

More than 8,700 people are currently waiting for a life-saving transplant.

NHSBT is urging one million people who have never registered before to register their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register this year.

A spokesperson said it takes just two minutes to register online, by calling 0300 123 23, or via the NHS App.

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