Facts about organ and tissue donation

Do you know

• Around 6,000 people are waiting for a transplant in the UK
• On average three people die a day in need of a transplant because there are not enough organ donors
• One donor can save or transform up to nine lives
• Each year, around 7,000 people die in circumstances where they could donate their organs
• Patients from black and Asian communities wait longer for a kidney transplant than awhite patient, due to the lack of suitable organs
• You are more likely to die in circumstances where you can donate your corneas than other organs or tissues
• From Spring 2020, all adults over 18 in England will be considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when they die, unless they had recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups.
• Family members are asked to support donation going ahead at the time of a relative’s death
• Whatever your organ donation decision, let close family or friends know to help ensure your decision is honoured. For more information, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk