MORE than 160 patients in Hampshire are waiting for an organ donor to save their life. 

The latest annual figures published by NHS Blood and Transplant show that 108 patients received a living or deceased transplant in 2022/23, compared to 113 in 2021/22 in Hampshire.

There are currently over 7,000 people on the active transplant waiting list in the UK, including 165 patients from Hampshire.

Residents are being urged to confirm their organ donation decision on the NHS organ donor register, families are more likely to support donation when they already know it was what their relative wants.

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Anthony Clarkson, director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "Over 50,000 people are alive in the UK today thanks to the life-saving gift of organ donation, and 88 patients received a deceased transplant in Hampshire last year. But this wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our incredible donors and their families who have given their support for donation at what is often the most difficult of times.

“We know that most people support organ donation in principle, and we have seen a steady increase in the number of people confirming their support for organ donation via the NHS Organ Donor Register, including 858,568 people in Hampshire.

“However, we still need families to support their loved one’s decision and agree to donation when approached, which we know is most likely when they know that’s what they wanted. With only one per cent of people dying in circumstances where organ donation is possible, every donor is precious and has the potential to save up to nine lives.

“We urge everyone who supports organ donation to confirm their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. It is a simple action which only takes two minutes, but can ultimately save lives.”

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The report also shows that 4,532 patients received donated organs from 2,386 donors both living and deceased in the UK last year. A five per cent increase in figures since the year before.

Find out more at organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.