FORTY people in West Yorkshire have died in the past two years waiting for an organ transplant, new data has revealed.

A survey by NHS Blood and Transport, an executive non-departmental public body of England's Department of Health and Social Care, has also shown there are currently 236 people in the county waiting for a new organ.

Nationally there are 6,000 people on the waiting list and three people die each day because there are not enough donors, the survey adds.

The survey also aims to educate people about the new laws, stating almost half the adults in England are unaware it is changing.

From spring 2020, all adults in England will be considered as having agreed to donate their own organs when they die unless they record a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups.

Those excluded will be people under 18, people who lack the capacity to understand the change and people who have lived in England for less than 12 months before their death or who are not living here voluntarily.

The campaign, developed with input from people from a range of ages and backgrounds and from across the country, aims to clearly communicate that the law is changing and the choices available, as well as encouraging people to make a decision and share this with their family.

Anthony Clarkson, director of organ donation and transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Organ donation is, and always will be, a precious gift. Although the law is changing it will still be the generosity of individual donors and their families who decide at the most difficult time to support organ donation, which will ensure more transplants can happen and more lives can be saved.

“We want everyone to know the law around organ donation is changing, to understand how it is changing and the choices available to them. We want them to make their organ donation decision and to share that decision with their family.

“While eight in ten people in England tell us they definitely want to donate or would consider donating, only just over a third of adults have told their partner or family that they want to donate their organs after they die. Regardless of the organ donation decision you make, the most important thing is to make sure your family are aware of your decision.

“We hope that by increasing awareness and understanding of organ donation, we can inspire more individuals and families to agree to donation and allow many more lives to be saved.”

Once the new system is introduced across England, families will still be involved before any organ or tissue donation goes ahead and NHS Blood and Transplant specialist nurses will continue to speak with families about their loved one’s decision.

The ‘Pass it on’ campaign is being supported by charities and community groups, including British Heart Foundation, Kidney Care UK, Donor Family Network, Share Your Wishes, ACLT and National BAME Transplant Alliance.

Digital adverts will run across relevant social media channels with online resources and a toolkit available for individual supporters, community groups and partner organisations. Videos, animations, factsheets and FAQs plus printed materials will also be available.

For more information about the campaign or to access online resources, visit: https://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/pass-it-on/

To find out more about organ donation, the law change, or to opt in or out, visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call the dedicated advice line on 0300 303 2094.