MORE than a third of the population of the South West is on the NHS organ donor register – the second highest proportion in the UK after Scotland.

The average for England is 28 per cent, while the lowest proportion of potential organ donors is in the Channel Islands, which has just eight per cent of its population registered.

All areas of the UK have shown an increase in recruits to the register, which now holds details of a record 18 million people who have stated their wish to donate organs and/or tissue when they die. The numbers in the BH and DT postcode areas grew by almost 18,000 in the last year, to 266,104.

Sally Johnson, director of organ donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “This is a fantastic achievement. However, if we are to see that everyone in need of a transplant receives one, we need even more people to sign.

“We would especially encourage more people from black and Asian communities because patients from these wait on average three times longer for an organ.

“Getting people to sign up to the register is only half the battle.

“It’s essential that those who want to become donors discuss their wishes with family and friends.”

Last year more than 1,000 people donated organs after death, allowing more than 2,700 transplants to take place.

But with more than 10,000 people in need of a transplant and three people dying every day while waiting, more recruits are urgently needed.

A campaign themed ‘What are You Waiting For?’ will take place during National Transplant Week from July 4 to 10.

l To join the organ donor register go do organdonation.nhs.uk or ring 0300 123 23 23.