Number of patients in UK waiting for lifesaving organ transplant at record high | Organ donation
The number of patients awaiting a vital organ transplant in the United Kingdom has increased to a record level when there has been a sharp drop in donors, according to official figures.
According to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), more than 8,000 people, including nearly 300 children, appear on the waiting list for transplantation. With nearly 4,000 others need an organ but temporarily outside the list because they are too sick or unavailable for an operation, this means that nearly 12,000 people live in limbo, awaiting the call which can mean the difference between life and death.
In the past year, the NHS has carried out fewer transplants and few people donated organs than the previous year. A senior NHSBT official said the situation was “incredibly worrying”.
In total, 4,583 patients had a transplantation in 2024/25, according to its report, down 2% out of 4,651 in 2023/24. The fall of donors was even more dramatic. In total, 1,403 gave organs after their death in 2024/25, down 7% out of 1,510 the previous year.
Anthony Clarkson, director of NHSBT donation and transplant, said there was an urgent need for more British to save lives by recording their decision on the NHS organ donors and telling their loved ones.
“We are faced with an incredibly worrying situation where more people than ever are expected, but fewer donations take place. Tragically, someone will die today while waiting for a transplant – we urgently have more people to record their decision to donate and have these vital conversations with their families.
“Last year, 60% of people who donated after death were on the NHS organ Donor Register, which made these conversations with much easier families. People are much more likely to support the gift when they know that is what their parent wanted. ”
Family consent rates asked to support donations when their loved one dies remains “stubbornly low” at 59%, according to the 181 -page report of the NHSBT.
Last year, 173 families canceled the registered or expressed decision of their parent to make a donation. In 520 other cases, families did not support the donation when the law presumes that consent – which means that their loved one had not registered to withdraw but had not expressed a decision either.
As part of the deactivation system, the donation can only continue family support, which is why it remains essential for the British to have a conversation with and leave relatives some of their wishes, said the NHSBT.
Fiona Loud, political director of charity Kidney Care Uk, said that too many people were dying unnecessarily while waiting for a transplant. She urged ministers to launch a national awareness campaign to increase the number of gifts.
“Unfortunately, the transplantation waiting list is now the longest it has been, and we must act to ensure that the number of people awaiting a transplant is reduced. An action is now necessary on promotion and prevention to reduce the waiting list and help save lives in 2025 and in the future. ”
