A specialist nurse at Airedale Hospital is urging people to sign up to the national organ donor register.

Rachel Wiseman will have an information stand at the hospital tomorrow to spread the word about the importance of organ donation.

The initiative is being staged to coincide with National Transplant Awareness Week.

Around 8,000 people nationally are awaiting a transplant but about 1,000 die each year whilst waiting because of a shortage of organs.

Airedale Hospital is implementing Government recommendations to try to improve donation rates. Every potential organ donor’s family is given information where appropriate.

And last year a memorial rose garden was planted in tribute to past and present donors.

Rachel said: “Whilst numbers of organs donated have increased over the past three years, there still remains a gap between supply and demand.

“We are working hard to raise awareness of organ donation and encourage people to sign up to the donor register, not only within the trust but also in the community.

“It’s really important that everyone takes some time to think about this and discuss their wishes with their loved ones. If you would like to help others after your death then join the organ donor register.”

In the UK last year, 1,798 lives were changed through kidney transplantation and 741 through liver transplants.

About 30 per cent of the population has signed up to the organ donor register.