In the UK between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004:The highest number of organ transplants ever recorded (2,867) were carried out, thanks to the generosity of 1,240 donors. Organs from 772 people who died were used to save or dramatically improve many people's lives through 2,396 transplants.
Compare this with the period between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2007:
3,086 organ transplants were carried out, thanks to the generosity of 1,495 donors.
949 lives were saved in the UK through a heart, lung, liver or combined heart/lungs, liver/kidney, liver/pancreas or heart/kidney transplant.
A total of 2,137 patients received a kidney, pancreas or combined kidney/pancreas transplant.
A further 2,402 people had their sight restored through a cornea transplant.
A record number of non-heartbeating donor kidney transplants took place and accounted for one in seven of all kidney transplants.
The highest number of combined kidney/pancreas transplants took place (164, representing a 53% increase on 2005-2006).
Living donor kidney transplants are increasing - 461 in 2003-2004, 475 in 2004-2005, 589 in 2005-2006, and 690 in 2006-2007, and now represent more than one in four of all kidney transplants.
At the end of March 2007, 7,234 patients were listed as actively waiting for a transplant.
Almost a million more people pledged to help others after their death by registering their wishes on the NHS Organ Donor Register, bringing the total at 31 March 2007 to 14,201,229.
This compares with 10 million people pledging to donate their organs and tissues after death leading up to March 2004. More than 860,000 people added their names to the NHS Organ Donor Register in that year. If you, your family, or your friends would like to help others by registering for organ donation, please visit www.uktransplant.org.uk - alternatively you can ring 0845 60 60 400.
It is important that you discuss your wishes with your friends and family. Data obtained from UK Transplant. For more information please visit www.uktransplant.org.uk
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