Overview
- This week NHS Blood and Transplant launched the “One in a Million” drive to add about 1 million registrations and reach a 30 million target by the end of the year to try to reverse falling family authorisation.
- National family authorisation for deceased organ donation has fallen from 69% in 2020/21 to 57% in 2025/26, and NHSBT says that when a person’s wishes are recorded families support donation about 90% of the time.
- Regional data show large gaps between donors and need: North East and Yorkshire had 302 deceased donors last year while 1,132 people remained on the waiting list, and the South East has more than 900 people waiting after 338 deceased donors and 43 deaths on the list last year.
- NHSBT argues that a formal registration gives families clear direction at a difficult moment so more recorded wishes are followed and fewer donation opportunities are lost.
- If registrations rise and NHSBT follows its plan to improve clinical practice and invest in systems and specialist staff, more organs could reach patients on the 8,296‑strong active transplant list and reduce the hundreds of deaths and removals due to deteriorating health recorded last year.