MORE than 50 people in Dorset are currently waiting for an organ transplant, the NHS has revealed as it launches a year-long campaign to raise awareness of the organ donation law change.

From spring 2020, all adults in England will be considered as having agreed to donate their own organs when they die unless they record a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups.

Those excluded will be people under 18, people who lack the capacity to understand the change and people who have lived in England for less than 12 months before their death or who are not living here voluntarily.

A survey carried out by NHS Blood and Transplant in January found only 37 per cent of people over the age of 16 were aware the law around organ donation was changing.

The ‘Pass it on’ campaign aims to clearly communicate the law change and the choices available, as well as encourage people to make a decision and share this with their family.

Currently in Dorset, there are 52 people waiting for a transplant and, in the past two years, five people or fewer have died waiting, according to figures from the NHS.

Anthony Clarkson, director of organ donation and transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Organ donation is, and always will be, a precious gift. Although the law is changing it will still be the generosity of individual donors and their families who decide at the most difficult time to support organ donation, which will ensure more transplants can happen and more lives can be saved.

“We want everyone to know the law around organ donation is changing, to understand how it is changing and the choices available to them. We want them to make their organ donation decision and to share that decision with their family.

“While eight in ten people in England tell us they definitely want to donate or would consider donating, only just over a third of adults have told their partner or family that they want to donate their organs after they die. Regardless of the organ donation decision you make, the most important thing is to make sure your family are aware of your decision.

“We hope that by increasing awareness and understanding of organ donation, we can inspire more individuals and families to agree to donation and allow many more lives to be saved.”

Once the new system is introduced across England, families will still be involved before any organ or tissue donation goes ahead and NHS Blood and Transplant specialist nurses will continue to speak with families about their loved one’s decision.

Visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call the dedicated advice line on 0300 303 2094.