PARENTS are less likely to donate child’s organs, figures show.

New figures show parents are significantly less likely to donate their child’s organs for lifesaving transplants, which limits the number of organs available for children on the transplant waiting list.

The statistics, released by NHS Blood and Transplant show only 48 per cent of families supported donation for a child last year. That compares to an average of 66 per cent of families agreeing for relatives of all ages.

Over the past decade 42 children in North Yorkshire have waited for an organ transplant, while 11 children became organ donors over the same time.

Angie Scales, of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “For many children on the transplant waiting list in North Yorkshire, their only hope is the parent of another child saying ‘yes’ to organ donation at a time of terrible personal grief.

“Organ donation can offer comfort to the families of donors through the knowledge that something remarkable came from their loss."

For some children on the waiting list, a young donor is their only hope. Hearts and lungs in particular need to be matched by size because of the limited space inside the chest, and also to ensure the two organs have comparable strength and do not overwhelm or underpower each other.

Nationally the shortage of suitable donors means children waiting for an urgent heart transplant will wait two and half times as long as adults waiting on the urgent waiting list.

In the last three years, 46 children have died on the transplant waiting list. Of these, 30 were waiting for a heart or lung transplant, the NHS said.

Harry Clarke, who turns eight months old during Organ Donation Week, is at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital with dilated cardiomyopathy, and his only option is a heart transplant from another child.

His parents Kerrie and Rob, have uprooted their lives in Birmingham to be by Harry’s side. They know that their only hope will be the parents of another child saying ‘yes’ to organ donation at a time of personal tragedy.

“We’d hope that family can look at it as an opportunity for their heart to live on through our son,” said Kerrie.

“Looking at him without his wires, you wouldn’t know he was ill some days. Until you go through this and see how many babies are suffering with heart problems, considering organ donation probably doesn’t even cross your mind but it’s really important to have those conversations.”

Currently, children can join the NHS Organ Donor Register, although those with parental responsibility must give consent for donation after they die.

- Visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk to register