ORGAN donor numbers in the district are on the rise.

Latest figures show that more than 152,000 people in the Bradford district are now registered donors – an increase of nearly a third compared to seven years ago.

But health bosses say that despite the rise, there is still a need for more people to come forward.

Around 95 patients across the district are currently awaiting a transplant.

And nationally, three people a day die because of the lack of an available organ.

The need for donors from Asian and black backgrounds is particularly pressing.

Dr Andy Baker, a clinical lead for organ donation in Bradford, said: “One organ donor has the potential to save nine lives, which is an amazing legacy to leave behind.

“I would urge people throughout the district to sit down and talk about organ donation with their families and loved ones, so that their wishes are clear.

“Many people don’t realise that their family’s support is needed for organ donation to go ahead, so share your decision with your loved one.

“If you’ve never talked to your partner or family about your decision to be a donor, they will not know you want to save lives and you could leave them guessing what you would have wanted at a difficult time.

“Every year, organs go to waste because relatives aren’t sure what their loved one wanted.

“If more people join the NHS organ donor register and talk to their families, more lives will be saved.”

So far in 2018-19 across the district, 39 people have received a new kidney, six a new liver and 26 new corneas.

Raz Igasan, a specialist nurse for organ donation at Bradford Teaching Hospitals and NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We are very grateful to these people who have donated and their families.

“They should find comfort in the fact their generous donations have saved or improved the lives of people here in Bradford district this year.

“We would also appeal to our South Asian community to come forward and sign-up to the register, as this section of our population has much longer to wait for a transplant due to blood group and tissue matching differences – despite being four times more likely to need a kidney transplant due to their genetic predisposition to suffer from kidney disease and failure.

“If an organ comes from an Asian donor, there is a better chance of success if the blood group and tissues match.”

For more details and to join the donor register, visit organdonation.nhs.uk.