The news that a record number of people donated organs after their death in Bradford meant that 26 people’s lives were saved, figures revealed today have shown.

But the actual number of donations still remains relatively low, with those figures representing nine people who allowed their organs to be donated.

The continued appeal for more donors has once again led to a debate on whether it is time for people to be asked to opt out of donations rather than having to carry a card to agree to their organs being removed after death.

There must be, though, grave concerns about the principle of a presumption to donate, and many would be unhappy if this became the default position.

The alternative, the current system of asking people to carry an organ donation card by way of consent, presents its own difficulties in that not enough people are coming forward.

However, the increase in organ donations from this area – and although the figure is small, it is actually a 90 per cent increase in the number of organs donated the previous year – shows that promotion and publicity, like that given by the Telegraph & Argus in Bradford last year, can make a difference and encourage people to come forward.

Rather than forcing people to opt out, and possibly creating very difficult situations for already distraught and grieving relatives, we should be looking for more extensive and creative efforts to promote the worth and importance of carrying an organ donor card.

As our case study today shows, donated organs play a vitally important role in saving lives across the country. So let’s use encouragement and persuasion to keep increasing the number of people willing to give others life after their deaths.