Organ transplant waiting list hits record high as donor and transplant numbers fall

More people than ever before are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant in the UK – but donor and transplant numbers have fallen.

New figures released today (9 July) by NHS Blood and Transplant reveal the stark reality that 8,096 patients, including 276 children, were on the active transplant waiting list as of 31 March 2025 – the highest number on record.

With a further 3,883 temporarily suspended because they are either currently unfit for transplant or temporarily unavailable – that means almost 12,000 people are living in daily uncertainty, unsure if they will get the organ they need to save their life.

Last year saw over 100 fewer deceased organ donors, resulting in a 2% drop in life-saving transplants compared to the previous year.

The Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Activity Report, published today, shows that in 2024/25:

4,583 patients received organ transplants – 2% less than the previous year
1,403 people donated organs after death – a 7% decrease on the year before
Living donors now account for over 40% of all organ donations with 991 people donating a kidney or part of their liver
The number of cornea transplants increased by 11%, offering the gift of sight to thousands of people in the UK.

Lynne's story

Lynne in hospital on dialysis One of those waiting for a transplant is Mum of 2, Lynne Cordery, from London. The 51-year-old is waiting for a kidney transplant after complications following a heart transplant to treat hypertropic cardiomyopathy in 2022.

Her donor heart is now doing well but Lynne, from Dagenham, has been on dialysis three days a week for three years as she awaits a new kidney, meaning more than 2,300 hours of dialysis so far. Lynne was added to the transplant waiting list in February this year.

Lynne says:

"It got to the point with my heart where I was told I needed a transplant. I was devastated; it was a shock.

"When I got a transplant, sadly I had complications, I was in surgery a long time, had a lot of bleeding and was put on life support. My kidneys failed so dialysis started while I was in a coma.

“I am so grateful to my heart donor, people are amazing, I think of him all the time, especially on special occasions. Because of my donor I've seen my son turn 18 and my daughter turn 16 and enjoyed other birthdays, Christmases.

"I need a kidney now and then I can really live life. Waiting is a limbo time, I can't work, I don’t go on holiday, socialising is hard, and my life revolves around dialysis three days a week and the restrictions it brings.

"Dialysis is keeping me alive, but it is not a nice life. I’ve got to do it, I have no choice, but it is not living.

"I am scared I won't get my transplant, the waiting list being so high is scary. There are so many other people waiting, when will it be my turn? I am quite hopeful, but it is a scary time too.

"I would say organ donation is an amazing thing to do. You can save a life, please do it."

Christy's story

Christy, in hospital on dialysis Christy Millar from Upton in Wirral is also waiting for a kidney transplant. The 40-year-old runs her own podcast, Chronically Christy, focusing on people with chronic conditions and the importance or organ transplants.

The former Office Manager's Assistant suddenly became unwell in 2006, just as she finished at university. She woke up from a six-week coma to discover her appendix had burst, causing sepsis and multi-organ failure. This left her on dialysis, having lost half her body weight and requiring a colostomy. She initially received a living donor transplant from her husband (then boyfriend) but sadly it didn’t work.

After another 5 years of dialysis, Christy received a kidney from a deceased donor. Though she faced further complications post-transplant, the kidney powered through and became known as 'Betty'.

Christy says:

"For nearly a decade, 'Betty' gave me my freedom back. Me and my husband travelled the world, visiting places like Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Japan. The transplant meant I was no longer tied to hospital visits, I could work, bake, and enjoy life fully, very different to my time on dialysis.

"Though, sadly, last year 'Betty' began failing and I was put back on the transplant waiting list. I receive dialysis 3 times a week while I once again, wait for the call.

"My life is in hold again. Every withheld phone number brings hope that it might be news about a transplant, only to discover it's often just routine test results or something else from the hospital. Dialysis sessions can feel really isolating as well. You can't be spontaneous if you're on dialysis. I've never missed a session, but the 3-weekly hospital visits make spontaneity impossible.

"I dream of the day when a successful transplant will allow me to book last-minute holidays and explore places I didn’t get to during my travels last time."

"I know my only chance at a transplant is for more people to become organ donors after death, but I am concerned about misinformation regarding organ donation and that many people avoid discussing death, even though becoming a donor could save up to 9 lives."

Consent rates from families who are asked to support donation when their loved one dies remain stubbornly low at 59%.

Last year, 173 families overruled their relative's registered or expressed decision to donate. In a further 520 cases, families did not support donation where the law presumes consent – meaning their loved one had not registered to opt out but also hadn’t expressed any decision.

Under the 'opt-out' system donation can still only go ahead with the family's support, which is why it remains so important to have the conversation and leave your loved ones certain of your wishes.

Sadly, every day someone dies waiting for a transplant. Last year 463 patients died waiting, and a further 911 patients were removed from the transplant list due to deteriorating health. Many of these patients would have died shortly afterwards.

Alongside urging more people to register their decision and speak to their families, the NHS is also working to modernise systems and invest in innovation to help improve outcomes and make more transplants possible.

Statement

Statement from Anthony Clarkson

Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation, Anthony Clarkson, is urging people to take action by registering their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register and having that vital conversation with loved ones, he says:

"We are facing an incredibly concerning situation where more people than ever are waiting for transplants, but fewer donations are taking place. Tragically, someone will die today waiting for a transplant - we urgently need more people to register their decision to donate and to have these vital conversations with their families.

"Last year, 60% of people who donated after death were on the NHS Organ Donor Register, which made those conversations with families so much easier. People are far more likely to support donation when they know it’s what their relative wanted.

"To truly reduce the transplant waiting list, we need to take action across all aspects of organ donation and transplantation. That means modernising the NHS Organ Donor Register, having more clarity about what the law change really means and investing in innovative technologies that preserve and treat organs to improve transplant success rates."

How you can help

To find out more, and confirm your support for organ donation, confirm your decision through our website, call 0300 123 23 23 or use the NHS app.