Organ donation campaigns

Organ donation law has changed

The law around organ donation has changed. All adults in England are now considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when they die unless they have recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups.

This system was introduced in Wales in 2015 and will also be introduced in Scotland in March 2021.

NHS Blood and Transplant is urging families across England to talk about their organ donation decision and share it with others.

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Organ donation law in England has changed

Organ donation in England has moved to an ‘opt out’ system. You still have a choice about whether or not you wish to become a donor.

See how it works

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Share our materials

We've provided a selection of posters, social media, web and email graphics that you can share to tell others that the law in England has changed.

Share materials now

Why do we campaign?

To promote public awareness about organ donation and transplantation.

To promote public awareness about the change to organ donation law in England, and the choices available to people.

To encourage people to record their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

To encourage people to share their donation decision with their family and friends.

Many people don’t realise that their family’s support is needed for organ donation to go ahead, and fewer than half of families agree to donation going ahead if they are unaware of their loved one’s decision to be a donor.

In the UK

Around 6,000 people across the UK are waiting for an organ transplant
Only around 6,000 people each year die in circumstances where they can donate their organs
Every day across the UK, someone dies waiting for a transplant

Get involved

There are lots of different ways to get involved.

Take a look at our publicity guide for ideas about how to help support our campaign.

Get social media graphics and more to share

Download and share our campaign materials. Get social media graphics, posters, email signature images and more.

See materials

Need promotional items?

Go to our campaign catalogue to order free posters, leaflets and promotional items. If you need to place a larger order than the system allows or have any questions about organ donation promotional items, please contact leaflets@nhsbt.nhs.uk

Follow us on social media

Follow our social media channels and share our posts.

Personal stories make a difference

We know that personal stories about organ donation or transplantation are really powerful. Seeing them on the TV, in newspapers or online can encourage others to join the NHS Organ Donor Register or trigger people to talk about organ donation.

Hilaria's story

Hilaria Asumu talks about her 10-year battle with kidney disease and how an organ donor transformed her life.

Hugs: Freddie's story

Freddie, from Yorkshire, received a liver transplant in 2015.

Watch more films about families discussing the moment they said yes to organ donation.

More information

What is the NHS Organ Donor Register?

The NHS Organ Donor Register is a legal and confidential way to record your organ donation decision.

If you die in circumstances where you could be a donor, authorised NHS Blood and Transplant staff can see if you wanted to be a donor or not and what organs/tissue you wanted to donate.

This information helps us when we are talking to your family.

If we can share with them that you had registered a decision to donate they are more likely to support your decision.

Why do we promote conversations?

Many people believe that all you need to do to show you want to be a donor is to join the NHS Organ Donor Register or carry a donor card.

However, if you die in circumstances where you could become an organ donor your family would be approached by specialist nurses and asked to support your decision to donate.

If you die without registering to donate your organs, we would need to ask your next of kin to make the decision for you.

It can be a big burden for families to make such an important decision at such a difficult time.

Less than half of families approached about donation agree to donate a relative’s organs if they are unaware of their relative’s decision to be a donor.

When a family says no to donation, someone waiting for a transplant may miss out on their only opportunity for a transplant which could save their life.

Need to get in touch?

If you have questions about promoting organ donation (such as queries relating to facts or key messages or have questions about our national activities) please contact marketing.comms@nhsbt.nhs.uk

If you have a personal story you would like to share to help promote organ donation, please contact pressoffice@nhsbt.nhs.uk

If you are from a large organisation and would like to help us promote donation to your workforce or customers please email partnerships@nhsbt.nhs.uk

Want to talk to us about the opt out system?

0300 303 2094

Call us on our dedicated line.

Mon – Fri: 8am - 8pm

Sat and Sun: 8am - 4pm

Minicom: 0845 730 0106

Text chat: 07860 034343

Questions about the opt out system?

Get answers to some of the key questions around the changes to English organ donation.

Get answers now

Powerful stories

Read powerful, real life stories about organ donation

Watch and share our videos

Get inspired watching our videos and share them with your friends and family.

Visit our YouTube channel