New figures show that more people in Yorkshire donate their organs

New figures reveal that 130 people in the region have become deceased organ donors in 2017-18, an increase of 110% over the past decade.

Manpreet Singh (right) with his brother and nephew

But nearly 500 people in the county are on a transplant list, waiting for an organ donation.

NHS Blood and Transplant published the numbers to mark the release of its annual report on transplantation activities, revealing growing support for organ donation nationwide.

Donations in Yorkshire and the Humber helped the United Kingdom reach a record over the last year, with 1,574 people saving lives through deceased organ donation.

Sally Johnson, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant: "We are incredibly grateful to all Yorkshire and Humber families who chose to say" yes " to the donation of organs

"The donation of organs is the only hope for many seriously ill people. We want more people to have this opportunity.

Despite support, there is a general shortage of donors and about three people die each day in need of a donation.

In May of this year, 493 people from Yorkshire and Humber were on the waiting list for a transplant.

Manpreet Singh, of Morley, suffers from nephropathy of kidney disease and went to do a transplant. ist for a kidney last year. His brother Gurpeet, 30, makes a donation, but he needs to reduce his body weight before the transplant can take place.

Although diagnosed in adolescence, Mr. Singh lived a relatively normal life by managing his blood pressure until 2011. state deteriorated. He was put on a steroid course that made him gain so much weight that he could not even recognize his own face. He was known to have kidney failure in 2016 and later develop pneumonia.

million. Singh, a NHS Trust patient, had to quit his full-time job in PR and marketing, but he tries to stay positive

. Despite three 4-hour dialysis sessions per week, he now runs his own digital marketing service, lectures at Leeds Trinity University, helps administer his own treatment, and has even traveled 5 km for charities. .

But he said, "I can not do much, I can not lead a normal life."

"My whole family went to India but I could not travel with them because of the risks.If I'm walking 200 meters I'm tired.You do not have any fresh blood around your body, all the toxins accumulate constantly in your blood.You must change your lifestyle – that is, adapt or die. "

M. Singh, who is Sikh, was not aware of the urgent need for more donors of Asian descent.

He said, "I feel like people often only think about these things when it affects your own family and culturally, and also with religion, there are things to overcome such as thinking that you need to all your organs with you are cremated or buried.I think that one needs to be more aware of the need for more donors. "

Nationally, about 38% of the population is registered in the United States. Register of NHS organ donors In our region, this figure drops to 35%

The annual Blood and Transplant report indicates that an aging population means that age average of potential donors increases.And in Yorkshire, more than 50 years are needed to support the donation.

Ms. Johnson said: "The elderly can still save and transform lives through the donation of organs and of fabrics. "

The Be a Hero Campaign, led by The NHS Trust of Leeds Teaching Hospitals, supported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, has helped 50,000 people in Yorkshire sign the donor registry.