'THE greatest gift this Christmas could be saving a life.'

That’s the message to Dorset residents as 37 patients remain waiting for a life-saving organ transplants across the county.

NHS Blood and Transplant says many of their lives could be saved or significantly improved if a donor is found.

Anthony Clarkson, director of organ and tissue donation and transplantation at NHSBT, said: “For many thousands of people across the country, including 22 people in Dorset who have had transplants this year, the only reason that they are able to enjoy a happy and healthy Christmas is thanks to the generosity of a donor and their family who so selflessly chose to give the gift of life.

"However, there are still thousands of people who are still desperately hoping and waiting for the transplant that will transform their life.”

Despite the law around organ donation moving to an opt out system across England, Wales, and Scotland, the NHSBT says many are still not aware that families will still always be consulted before organ donation goes ahead.

Just 42 per cent of the UK population have registered their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register and just 37 per cent say that they have shared their organ donation decision with their family.

Mr Clarkson added: “We know that for many thousands of people across the UK, including 37 people in Dorset, the greatest gift they could receive this year will be a phone call telling them that a donor has been found for them. Please let your family know your organ donation decision and leave them certain of your decision”.

For more information, or to register your organ donation decision, visit organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.

NHS app users can also use the service to record, check or update their organ donation decision.