You may not know...

The option of donation after death can be extended beyond organ donation, to a much larger group of donors who can give tissues.  For example, corneas can restore sight and heart valves can save lives through their use in the treatment of heart disease.

The great majority of transplant operations use organs from people who have died.  However, a living relative or, in certain circumstances, a living unrelated person can, if fit, donate one of their kidneys, and in rare cases, donate part of their liver, lung or bowel without unacceptable risk to their own health.

Further advice on this can be sought from you own healthcare professionals.

Important facts about organ donation

• Nearly 3,000 organs are transplanted  in this country each year.
• As well as life-saving operations, over 2,000 sight-saving corneal transplants are carried out each year.
• As medicine and technology advance, the types of organs that can be transplanted have increased.  As well as heart, liver and kidney, doctors can also transplant organs such as lung, pancreas and small bowel. 
• There is no maximum age for some donations, so healthcare professionals will make a decision on each individual case.
• Having an existing medical condition does not necessarily prevent a person from becoming a donor.  Again, the decision will be taken by a healthcare professional at the time of death.