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Helpline 01539 728180
Organ & Tissue Donor Fact
Sheet
Transplants transform lives
Organ and tissue transplants are one of the most miraculous achievements of modern medicine.
They are the best possible treatment for most people with organ failure. A transplant involves the
donation of organs from one person to another and enables about 2,700 people to take on a new
lease of life in the UK every year.
The increasing effectiveness of transplantation means that many more patients can be considered
for treatment in this way. But there is a serious shortage of donors. For some people this means
waiting, sometime for years, and undergoing difficult and stressful treatment. For all too many it
means they will die before a suitable organ becomes available.
Organ Donation Facts
What is the NHS Organ Donor Register?
The NHS Organ Donor Register is, quite literally a life-saver.
It is a confidential, computerised database which holds the wishes of more than 16 million people
who have decided that, after their death, they want to leave a legacy of life for others. The register
is used to help establish whether a person wanted to donate and, if so, what.
Who can join the NHS Organ Donor Register?
Everyone irrespective of age or health and who is considered legally competent can join the NHS
Organ Donor Register. Your entry in the Register provides legal consent for the donation of your
organs.
Can I be a donor if I have an existing medical condition?
Yes, in most circumstances. Having a medical condition does not necessarily prevent a person
from becoming an organ or tissue donor. The decision about whether some or all organs or tissue
are suitable for transplant is made by a healthcare professional, taking into account your medical
history.
Registered Charity Number 1141415
19 June 2015
Can I agree to donate some organs or tissue and not others?
Yes. You can specify which organs you would wish to donate. Simply tick the appropriate boxes
on the NHS Organ Donor Register form or on the donor card, and let those close to you know
what you have decided.
My relative wants to be a donor. What do I need to do when they die?
Inform the healthcare professionals who are involved either with your relative's care or are helping
you in the immediate period following their death that they wanted to donate.
Do I need to discuss my wishes with my close family and friends?
Yes, they need to know what you would like to happen after your death so they can confirm your
wishes to NHS staff. If you register your wishes without telling the people closest to you, it may
come as a surprise at a time when they are trying to deal with their loss.
What will happen if my relatives object?
We know that in most cases families will agree to donation if they knew that was their loved one's
wish. If the family or those closest to the person who has died, object to the donation when the
person who has died has given their explicit permission, healthcare professionals will discuss the
matter sensitively with them. They will be encouraged to accept the dead person's wishes and it
will be made clear that they do not have the legal right to veto or overrule those wishes. There
may, nevertheless, be cases where it would be inappropriate for donation to go ahead.
Does donation leave the body disfigured?
Organs and tissue are always removed with the greatest of care and respect. This takes place in a
normal operating theatre under sterile conditions by specialist doctors. Afterwards the surgical
incision is carefully closed and covered by a dressing in the normal way. The operation is carried
out by specialist healthcare professionals who always ensure that the donor is treated with the
utmost respect and dignity. Only those organs and tissue specified by the donor or their family will
be removed.
Does being a donor cause delays to funeral arrangements?
No. The donation operation is performed as soon as possible after death.
How do I check and/or update my details?
To check your current details on the Register please call 0300 123 2323 or write to the NHS Blood
and Transplant department, address given at the end of this sheet.
Will my details be given to other organisations?
No.
Can I change my mind?
Yes. You can ring 0300 123 2323 or visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register
and fill in the form asking for your name to be removed. Alternatively, write to the NHS Blood and
Transplant department, address given at the end of this sheet.
Would a donor's family ever know who the recipient was?
Confidentiality is always maintained, except in the case of living donors who usually already know
each other. If the family wish, they will be given some brief details such as the age and sex of the
person or persons who have benefited from the donation. Patients who receive organs can obtain
similar details about their donors. Those involved may want to exchange anonymous letters of
thanks or good wishes through the transplant co-ordinators.
Registered Charity Number 1141415
19 June 2015
Key Partners
DVLA
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) – You can add your name to the Organ Donor
Register through a tick box on the DVLA driving license application form. Since 1993 the scheme
has been used by almost 10 million people to make their wishes known.
Boots
Anyone applying for a Boots Advantage Card can also join the Organ Donor Register by ticking a
box on the application form. Since the scheme started in 2000 nearly 1.4 million people have
applied to join the register through the scheme.
Facebook
Facebook users can share their decision to become an organ donor using the Timeline feature on
their profile. Adding a Facebook 'Life Event' to your Timeline doesn't register you to the NHS
Organ Donor Register but it is a great way of letting your friends and family know your decision.
Family Doctors
The form that patients complete when they register with a new doctor or GP surgery includes a
tick box giving people the opportunity to join the NHS Organ Donor Register. The scheme has
been running since April 1995 - and more than 4.5 million people have registered their wishes in
this way.
Passport Agency
The UK Passport Agency sends an organ donation leaflet with every new passport. More than
300,000 people have chosen to leave a legacy of life in this way since the scheme was introduced
in 1996.
EHIC
The Department of Health have been including organ donation registration forms with their mailing
of European Insurance Health Cards (EHIC) since they began this scheme in July 2005. Over
110,000 people have joined the register through this route.
Registered Charity Number 1141415
19 June 2015
How get on the Organ Donor Register
Go to www.organdonation.nhs.uk to register online
Pick up a registration form from your GP or hospital
Call the free NHS Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23
Texting SAVE to 62323
Write to: NHS Blood and Transplant
Organ Donation and Transplantation Directorate
Fox Den Road
Stoke Gifford
BRISTOL
BS34 8RR
Registered Charity Number 1141415
19 June 2015