Health & Lifestyle, Poole | Posted on October 1st, 2026 | return to news

People in Dorset encouraged to register for organ donation

With authorisation for organ donation across the UK having fallen, local people are encouraged to head to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

With 70 people in Dorset waiting for an organ transplant, University Hospitals Dorset is encouraging everyone to register their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register, as part of a national drive to encourage one million people to record their wishes by the end of the year.

Almost 29 million people across the UK have already registered their decision to donate their organs after death. However, with family consent rates falling, NHS Blood and Transplant is urging people to make sure their loved ones know what they want.

The latest figures show that family consent or authorisation for organ donation across the UK has fallen from 69 per cent in 2020/21 to 57 per cent in 2025/26.

Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation, Sophie Thorne said: “Many of us would hope to receive an organ if we needed one, so it’s important to consider what we would want to happen after our death. We want people to take a moment to reflect: if you would accept an organ, have you made your own decision about donation clear to your loved ones? Our team is here to work closely with your loved ones, providing compassionate advice and guiding them through the donation process.”

People can register their organ donation decision and find out more about organ donation through the NHS Organ Donor Register or by heading to https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/services/organ-donation-services.