At a glance:
- 406 people in Greater Manchester are waiting for a transplant that could save their life.
- In the past decade, almost 5,000 people in the UK died while waiting for a transplant
- Confirming your organ donation wishes could save someone’s life
- Make sure your family know your decision so they can honour your wishes
Across Greater Manchester, 396 people have died while waiting for a transplant over the past 10 years while 406 people are waiting for a transplant that could save their life.
By confirming your wishes about organ donation and letting your loved ones know about your decision, you could save or improve someone’s life.
Figures released by NHS Blood and Transplant to mark Organ Donation Week (22 -28 September) show that across the UK, 4,900 people died while actively waiting for a lifesaving transplant, and a further 7,700 were removed from the active list after being deemed too sick to receive one.
Dr Andrew Drummond, consultant in intensive care and clinical lead for organ donation at the Royal Oldham Hospital, which is part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA), said “Knowing what your relative wanted helps families support their decision around organ donation, at what is often a difficult time.
“We need more people in Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, and Salford to talk with their loved ones about organ donation to give them the certainty they need to support their organ donation decision.”
In 2024/25, 30 patients from across the NCA consented to donate their organs, which resulted in 58 patients receiving a life-saving or life-changing transplant.
Mark Ainscough, specialist nurse for organ donation at the NCA, said: “Families are often surprised that their loved one had registered a decision to become an organ donor, but again and again we find that being able to support that decision as a family can bring immense pride.
“Sadly, not everyone that dies can become an organ donor and that’s why it is important to explore every opportunity we have to help save or enhance someone’s life. Now more than ever, it’s vital that people register their decision and let their families know, so that they can support their decision when the time comes.”
Despite the challenges, there has been promising progress: more than 44,000 lives have been saved or improved through deceased and living donor organ transplants in the past decade. But with thousands still waiting, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is urging people to take just two minutes today to confirm their decision to be an organ donor.
Earlier this year, NHSBT revealed the transplant waiting list had reached its highest level ever recorded with 8,000 people actively waiting for a lifesaving transplant.
“Someone will die today waiting for an organ transplant,” said Anthony Clarkson, director of organ donation and transplantation at NHSBT.
“You are more likely to need a transplant than you ever are to be a donor - and most of us would accept an organ if we needed one – but far fewer of us have made the decision to donate. By confirming your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register, you could save or transform up to nine lives.”
- To find out more, and confirm your support for organ donation, visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk, call 0300 123 23 23 or use the NHS app.