Michael Fabricant 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 one million more organ donors.

"This year marks the tenth anniversary year of the establishment of the
NHS Organ Donor Register. We know that the majority of people 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 aim is to increase this number to 16 million
by 2010", Michael says.

"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
an organ transplant, but there are thousands more waiting for an organ
donor and many 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 to 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’re not carrying
it in the event of your death. 90% of the population say they support
organ donation and transplantation, yet only 20% (12 million people)
have recorded their wishes to help someone live after they die by
joining the ODR."

Michael says "The startling fact is: You are more likely to need a
transplant than become a donor."

The NHS Organ Donor Register was launched in October 1994 to increase
the number of donor organs available for transplantation by expanding
the opportunities for people to make their wishes known; have a positive
record of a person’s wishes and make it easier for relatives to agree to
organ donation.