Organ donation campaigns

• 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. 

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. 

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

For all other enquiries, please get in touch here.