Organ donation soars over past five years

The number of people donating organs after death has risen 50% since 2008.More than 1,200 people in the UK donated their organs in the last year, leading to about 3,100 transplants.

The increase has been largely credited to the network of specialist nurses who approach and support bereaved relatives in hospitals. But with the numbers on the organ donation register remaining unchanged, the NHS Blood and Transplant service is still asking people to sign up.

Sally Johnson, from NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “The NHS has worked hard to ensure every potential donor is identified, that the organ donation register is checked, and that families are approached. Refusal rate”But the NHS can’t do it on its own. We need a transformation in donor and family consent because the UK’s family refusal rate remains one of the highest in Europe.”

Last year, 125 families overruled an individual’s intention to donate. Ms Johnson said: “It is important families know their relative is signed up to the register. On the worst day of their lives, don’t let families guess”

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