The organs in your body

The kidneys, heart, liver, lungs, pancreas and the small bowel can all be transplanted.

What are donated organs used for?

Nine thousand people in the UK need an organ transplant but unfortunately, only 3,000 people a year receive one. One thousand die waiting.

Most people waiting for an organ transplant need a kidney, due to a range of serious illnesses. While kidney failure is not usually life-threatening, it brings many problems and symptoms, and affects the quality of life for the patient and those around them.

For people who need another type of organ transplant, such as heart, liver or lung, it is probably their last hope and without a transplant they are likely to die.

How do I donate an organ?

Most organs are donated after death. If you are on the NHS Organ Donor Register, it makes it easier for medical staff to find out your wishes and discuss them with your relatives.

It is possible to donate a kidney during life. Donors are often close relatives of the patient and their blood group and tissue type (known as the Human Leukocyte Antigen or HLA) has to be compatible.

When can I register to donate an organ?

Registering to become a donor is a personal decision. You can join at any age, but until you are 18 (16 in Scotland), your parents would need to agree to your wishes being carried out in the event of your death, so it's really important to discuss it with them.

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