MORE people from Yorkshire and the Humber are saving lives after their death through organ donation.

New figures reveal 130 people in the region became lifesaving deceased organ donors over the last year, helping the UK reach its highest ever number of donors.

NHS Blood and Transplant says more and more families in the area are supporting donation, pointing to a 110 per cent increase in donors in Yorkshire and the Humber over the past decade.

The figures have been released to mark the publication of its annual Transplant Activity Report today, which reveals the growing support for organ donation on a local and national level.

Nationally, there was a record number of organ donors, with 1,574 people saving lives through deceased organ donation over the last year.

But the organisation says the overall shortage of donors remains and there is an urgent need for more people to support donation.

Around three people die per day in need of a donated organ, but many people have never told their relatives they want to save lives.

There are still 493 people from Yorkshire and the Humber on the transplant waiting list and a donated organ is the last and only hope for many of them.

In the region, 35 per cent of the population is on the NHS Organ Donor Register, compared to a national figure of 38 per cent.

Karen Piotr, 49, from Queensbury, is urging people to speak to their loved ones about their wishes.

It is a cause close to her heart following the sudden death of her husband Mark, 49, last year.

But Mark was on the register and Karen says she knew he would have wanted to help other people.

And help other people he has, by going on to save eight lives.

Karen’s main message is: “Have that conversation – know what your loved one would want.”

Sally Johnson, director of Organ Donation and Transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to all the families in Yorkshire and the Humber who have chosen to say ‘yes’ to organ donation.

“Organ donation is the only hope for many desperately ill people. We know many families feel a sense of pride and comfort from their decision to save lives through organ donation.

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“We want more people to have that opportunity.”

The annual report also demonstrates how the ageing population means the average age of potential donors is increasing.

Anyone can join the NHS Organ Donor Register, age and medical conditions are not necessarily a barrier to donation. However many over-50s don’t join the NHS Organ Donor Register or tell their families they want to donate because they don’t think their organs could help other people.

She added: “We need more people aged over 50 in Yorkshire and the Humber to support donation.

“People in older age groups can still save and transform lives through organ and tissue donation.

“Many more lives could be saved by telling their families they want to donate.”

For more information, or to tell your family you want to save lives through organ donation and join the NHS Organ Donor Register, visit organdonation.nhs.uk