Rise in organ donation has benefited 1,000 in county
MORE than 1,000 people are now alive in Lancashire thanks to organ donation.
The number of people living in the county known to be alive thanks to transplants has reached 1,115.
This figure has been revealed by NHS Blood and Transplant, in its annual Transplant Activity Report, published on Tuesday (July 11), which shows that the UKwide number of people alive thanks to transplants has reached 50,000.
NHS Blood and Transplant is now urging people in Lancashire to help even more people to survive by joining the NHS organ donor register.
In Lancashire, the number of people on the register has increased by 28% over the past five years.
There are now 521,225 people on the register in Lancashire, compared with 405,988 five years ago.
Anyone can sign up as a donor.
How old you are or any existing medical conditions should not stop you from signing up.
You could save or transform up to nine people’s lives by donating your organs when you die and help even more by donating tissue.
Nationally, the number of people on the NHS organ donor register has reached a record number, 23.6 million.
Today 36% of the UK’s population is on the register, compared with 30% five years ago.
Sally Johnson, director of organ donation and transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “More people than ever in Lancashire are committing to organ donation and that is saving more lives than ever.
“It’s amazing to picture all the people now alive today thanks to organ donation and think of all the families and children who have grown up thanks to donors.
“We’re seeing more and more people committing to donation and the good results of our close work with hospitals.”
You can sign up to join the NHS organ donor register online at www.organdonation. nhs.uk