Age is no barrier to organ donation

Half of all over 55s believe they are either too old or too ill to be organ donors.

Research into the reasons why people aren’t signed up to the NHS Organ Donor Registry found that age group had written themselves off as donors.

Organs are matched to recipients by blood group, age and size so there is always a need for a wide range of donors from all age groups and ethnicitys.

Over 10,000 people in the UK are in need of a transplant, 1,000 of whom will die before receiving an organ - an average of three people dying each day.

Professor James Neuberger, Associate Medical Director at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “The belief that there is some sort of age limit on becoming an organ donor is a complete myth.

“Organs are successfully transplanted from people in their 70s and 80s and the oldest cornea donor recorded was 104 years old.

“There are also very few illnesses that prevent someone from donating their organs after death.

“That’s why we would encourage anyone who wants to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register to do so and ensure those close to them are aware of their wishes.

“Many people joke that we wouldn’t want their organs, but with 10,000 people currently in need of a transplant, we really do.”

The research has been carried out to understand the barriers to signing up as an organ donor, and to inform a major public awareness campaign, due to launch later this year.

The UK has one of the lowest rates of organ donation in Western Europe at 13 donors per million of population. Spain has the highest rate of organ donation in Europe at 35 donors per million of population.

In 2008/09, 3,513 organ transplants were carried out in the UK, thanks to the generosity of 1,854 deceased and living donors - the highest on record.

One donor can help up to eight different people and many more can be helped through the donation of the same person’s tissues.

For more information about organ donation or to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register, please call the Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23 or visit:

• www.organdonation.nhs.uk