Record High Number of Patients Waiting for Organ Transplants in the UK

The number of patients waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant in the UK has reached a record high, with a significant decrease in donors, according to official figures. More than 8,000 individuals, including nearly 300 children, are currently on the transplant waiting list, as reported by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). Additionally, around 4,000 more individuals are in need of an organ but are temporarily off the list due to health reasons or unavailability for surgery, bringing the total to almost 12,000 people awaiting a life-changing call.

In the previous year, the NHS conducted fewer transplants and saw a decline in organ donations compared to the year before. A senior official at NHSBT expressed deep concern over this situation.

During the 2024/25 period, a total of 4,583 patients received transplants, marking a 2% decrease from the previous year's 4,651. The number of donors also saw a significant drop, with 1,403 individuals donating organs after death in 2024/25, down 7% from 1,510 in the previous year.

Anthony Clarkson, the director of organ and tissue donation and transplantation at NHSBT, emphasized the urgent need for more people in the UK to register as organ donors and communicate their wishes to their families to save lives.

Despite the opt-out system, where donation requires family support, consent rates from families asked to support donation after a loved one's death remain low at 59%, as stated in the 181-page NHSBT report. Fiona Loud, the policy director of Kidney Care UK, highlighted the need for a national awareness campaign to increase organ donations and reduce unnecessary deaths of individuals waiting for transplants.

According to the source: The Guardian.