About tissue donation

Tissue can be thought of as a group of cells working together. A collection of tissues working together to perform a specific function is called an organ.

When you add your name and decision to the NHS Organ Donor Register, you can choose to donate your tissues to help repair and rebuild the bodies and lives of severely injured people.

Tissue donation is usually something that happens after you die, but it is possible to donate some tissue while you are alive.

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Tissue donation after death Living tissue donation

What tissues can you donate?

Cornea (eye)

The cornea is the clear outer layer of tissue at the front of the eye which lets in light so that you can see.

If you choose to donate your corneas, you could help restore sight to people with problems caused by eye disease, injury, or eye conditions present at birth. Disease or injury can make the cornea cloudy or distorted, making it hard or impossible to see.

Get more information about cornea donation

Heart valves

Skin

Bone

Donated bone can make an enormous difference to people who have had bone removed due to illness or injury by reducing pain and improving mobility.

The major functions of bones are to:

provide support for the body
protect vital organs
provide a place for the bone marrow
store minerals such as calcium

Bones in our body are living tissue made up of:

minerals (especially calcium)
vitamins
proteins

Calcium gives your bone its strength and flexibility.

Bones also have their own blood vessels and living cells, which help the bones to grow and repair themselves.

Tendons

Why become a tissue donor?

If you choose to become a tissue donor when you die, you could help repair or rebuild the lives of severely injured people.

As many as 50 people can be helped by one tissue donor.

You could even save the lives of children born with heart defects.

William's story

"There were four babies that had had tissue from his heart, so they're alive because of my dad."

How tissue donation changes lives

Most people can become tissue donors

Unlike organ donation, you don’t need to die in specific circumstances to donate tissue after death.

Almost anyone can be considered for tissue donation.

There are also very few health conditions where organ and tissue donation is ruled out completely.

Get more information about who can become an organ and tissue donor

How to become a tissue donor

If you would like to help others after you die by becoming a tissue donor, the best thing to do is to add your name and decision to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Alternatively, you can call us on 0300 123 23 23.

Act now to save lives in the future.

Have you registered your organ donation decision?

It takes just two minutes to register online.

See the choices you can make

Why register?

Find out why it's really important that you do.

Talk to your loved ones

Organ and tissue donation will only go ahead with the support of your family, and clinicians will never proceed if your family or loved ones object.

Get tips on how to talk to your loved ones about organ and tissue donation

Refer a tissue donor

If you have recently experienced the death of a loved one and wish to refer them as a potential tissue donor, or if you would like more information about tissue donation, please contact our specialist team on:

0800 432 0559

Referrals need to occur within 24 hours for eye donation and 48 hours for all other types of tissue donation.