HUNDREDS of people are waiting for life saving organ transplants across the region but many of us haven't given organ donation any thought, figures released today show. Mark Smith, who underwent a lifesaving transplant, speaks to health reporter Kate Liptrot. 

WHEN Mark Smith had an organ donation six years ago he couldn't have imagined how much it would transform his life. 

Having suffered severe diabetes since he was a teenager, his health had seriously deteriorated and he was put on the transplant waiting list for a kidney and pancreas. 

The call came seven months later, and in the year that followed, Mark not only regained his health, but learned he was to become a father. 

He and his wife Caroline were trying for a family but due to complications of diabetes they had three failed attempts at IVF. 

“Since the transplant things are radically different,” Mark, from Harrogate, said, “We went back to the IVF and in September 2010 we had our daughter, Emily."

Mark has since met the family of his donor, Adam, a 24-year-old killed by a punch to the head, and they have worked together to raise awareness of organ donation in the media and to schools. 

"Adam saved my life and meant I could go on to have a family and raise money for charity," he said, "It's about the quality of people's lives we are changing.

"It's such a noble thing to do. It's a massive gift you can give someone." 

But despite the life changing nature of the decision, figures released today by NHS Blood and Transplant to mark National Transplant Week, show a third of UK adults admit they haven’t considered organ donation or decided if they want to be an organ donor.

Across North Yorkshire there are 139 people waiting for a transplant. Last year 66 people in the county had their lives saved or transformed thanks to deceased organ donation. 

Meanwhile, in the East Riding of Yorkshire there are currently 75 people waiting for a transplant. Last year 30 people had successful organ transplants.

Anthony Clarkson, NHS Blood and Transplant’s assistant director for organ donation and nursing said:

“Every day three people die in need of a transplant. Yet across the UK 1 in 3 adults haven’t considered organ donation or decided whether they want to be an organ donor. 

“To save more lives we need more donors. To raise that number we really need everyone to understand the importance of not being complacent. We need to get to the point where organ donation is high on the list of important personal conversations we routinely have with loved ones.”

Last year the number of people donating organs in the UK fell for the first time in 11 years. 
The UK also has one of the lowest rates in Europe for families consenting to organ donation. In 2014/15, 58 per cent agreed to donate their family members’ organs after they died.

NHS Blood and Transplant found that, as a nation, people are happy to talk about many personal topics, but avoid conversations that could mean the difference between life and death for someone in need of an organ transplant.

Despite that, seven in ten adults have told a loved one how they would spend a lottery win and almost two thirds have discussed their preference for burial or cremation.

Mr Clarkson added: “As a nation we’re happy sharing dreams of big money wins and bucket-list holidays, and we’ll confide in our loved ones our worries about how we look. Yet too many of us are still not making the time or are not comfortable talking about organ donation.

“Telling your loved ones you want to be an organ donor means your family will be in no doubt about your decision meaning your wishes will be fulfilled should you die in circumstances where organ donation is possible.

“Over the next seven days we’d like everyone to give a few minutes of their time to think about organ donation and talk about whether they want to be an organ donor with their relatives or a close friend.”

Across North Yorkshire there are currently 420,201 people registered on the Organ Donor Register.