MORE than 140,000 people are registered as organ donors in Bradford, a rise of a fifth on five years ago.

The new figures, released today by NHS Blood and Transplant, show how the number of donors in the district has jumped from 116,325 to 140,807 - 21 per cent - in five years.

In addition the number of people in West Yorkshire who are alive thanks to transplants has reached 1,891. Nationally that figure hit the 50,000 mark.

Despite the increase there is still a shortage of organ donors and people are being encouraged to sign up.

Nationally, three people still die a day in need of a transplant and there are still about 6,400 people on the transplant waiting list.

There is also a particular need for people with Asian and black backgrounds to register.

Sally Johnson, director of organ donation and transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “More people than ever in West Yorkshire 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. Our specialist nurses in organ donation are now almost always involved in discussions with families over organ donation.

“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.”

The service’s annual Transplant Activity Report also shows that in West Yorkshire the number of people on the NHS Organ Donor Register has increased by 23 per cent over the past five years, to reach 731,335.

In the region, Bradford is second highest to Leeds, where there are 278,831 on the organ donor register.

Nationally the donor register has reached a record 23.6 million people, which is 36 per cent of the country’s population.

In addition more people in West Yorkshire are receiving lifesaving and life-enhancing transplants.

Last year 194 people in the region had transplants, compared to 144 five years ago.

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register visit organdonation.nhs.uk.

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