THE NUMBER of people living in the West Midlands currently known to be alive thanks to organ transplants has reached 2,106.
This figure is revealed by NHS Blood and Transplant, whose annual Transplant Activity Report shows the UK-wide number of people alive thanks to transplants has reached the milestone figure of 50,000.
NHS Blood and Transplant is now urging people in the West Midlands to help even more people to survive by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register.
In the West Midlands, the number of people on the Organ Donor Register has increased by 25 per cent over the past five years.
In Solihull there are now 71,721 people on the register compared to 55,312 five years ago and in neighbouring Coventry there are 93,183 people on the register compared to 75,034 five years ago.
Sally Johnson, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “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.
“However there is still a long way to go. Around three people still die a day in need of a transplant. Every one of those people who died could be a mother or a father, a daughter or a son, who might be alive today.
“Families tell us donation is a source of pride that helps them in their grieving process. We don’t want anyone in the West Midlands to miss the opportunity to save lives through organ donation. Please join the NHS Organ Donor Register. It only takes two minutes.”
Anyone can sign up as a donor on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
How old you are or any existing medical conditions shouldn’t 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.
Visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk to register.
