ALMOST 500 people in Wiltshire are alive today because they have had an organ transplant - while nationwide the figure has passed the 50,000 milestone.

NHS Blood and Transplant is urging people in the county to help even more to survive by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register.

In Wiltshire the service knows of 497 people who have had transplants, while the number of people on the organ donor register has increased by 26 per cent over the past five years. There are now 296,529 people on the register in Wiltshire.

Last year 58 people in Wiltshire had transplants, compared to 35 five years ago.

Sally Johnson, director of organ donation and transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “More people than ever in Wiltshire are committing to organ donation and that is saving more lives than ever. It’s amazing to picture all the people now alive today thanks to organ donation and think of all the families and children who have grown up thanks to donors.

“We’re seeing more and more people committing to donation and the good results of our close work with hospitals. Our specialist nurses in organ donation are now almost always involved in discussions with families over organ donation.

“However there is still a long way to go. Around three people still die a day in need of a transplant. Every one could be a mother or a father, a daughter or a son, who might be alive today.

“Families tell us donation is a source of pride that helps them in their grieving process. We don’t want anyone in Wiltshire to miss the opportunity to save lives through organ donation. Please join the NHS Organ Donor Register. It only takes two minutes.”

Anyone can sign up as a donor on the NHS Organ Donor Register. How old you are or any existing medical conditions shouldn’t stop you from signing up. You could save or transform up to nine people’s lives by donating your organs when you die and help even more by donating tissue.

Nationally, the number of people on the NHS Organ Donor Register has reached a record number, 23.6 million. Today 36% of the UK’s population is on the NHS Organ Donor Register, compared to 30% five years ago.

Nationally there are still around 6,400 people currently waiting for a transplant. There is a particular need for people to register from black and Asian backgrounds. People from the same ethnic background are more likely to be a match, but there are not enough black and Asian donors.

More people are alive thanks to transplants because of improving survival rates and increased public commitment to donation.

You can join the NHS Organ Donor Register at www.organdonation.nhs.uk