EAST Lancashire families have been urged to think about ensuring they register their consent for organ donation if they or one of their loved ones passes away.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans says this simple move could help save the lives of people waiting for a transplant.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons spoke out in the wake of Organ Donation Week,

The transplant waiting list is at a nine year high with 7,183 patients waiting for an organ with more than 80 percent of these patients waiting for a kidney.

According to the annual Transplant Activity report 2022/2023 429 people died on the waiting list last year.

Whilst the UK has switched to an opt-out system of organ donation consent is still needed from immediate family.

During Organ Donation Week Mr Evans met with representatives from Kidney Care UK including its director Fiona Loud, and NHS Blood and Transplant t to discuss what more can be done to help those on the waiting list get their transplant quicker.

He said: “Here in the UK, we have some of the best transplant technology in the world and many of the best surgeons to make use of it.

"However, this is useless if there aren’t the levels of organ donations required to help those in need.

“Donating an organ is perhaps the most important thing a person can do, and I would encourage everyone to register their intentions on the organ donor register and have those conversations with their family to make sure those intentions are known.”