Burstow calls for more organ donors

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 16th May 2005

Newly re-elected local MP Paul Burstow today called for more local people to register as organ donors to support the 10th anniversary of the NHS Organ Donor Register appeal to register 1 million more organ donors.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the NHS Organ Donor Register. The majority of people do support organ donation in principle. Over the last 12 months nearly 1 million people have signed on to the Organ Donor Register -a confidential database of names that confirms an individual's wish to be an organ donor in the event of their death. Currently over 20% of the UK population (over 12 million people) have demonstrated their support by joining the register. The Government is committed to increasing this number to 16 million by 2010.

Paul Burstow said:

'In this anniversary year I want to encourage more people to register as organ donors. Thousands of people's lives have been saved as a result of organ transplant but there are thousands more waiting for an organ donor and many more will die waiting for a suitable organ to be donated. Signing up and making sure your relatives are aware of your wish to donate will help them and NHS staff ensure that your wishes are carried out.

If you have a donor card but have not put your name on the register, your good intention may not be put into practice if you are not carrying it in the event of your death.'