Are people from Dalbeattie on the organ donor registry?

The number of people needing a transplant in the region has been highlighted during the week of organ donation.

Figures show that nine people currently require a kidney transplant, up from six in 2016/17.

And, on average, people wait about three years for the rescue operation.

More than 67,000 people in Dumfries and Galloway are currently registered in the organ donor registry, just under half of the population.

And medical experts hope that this number will increase further if an opt-out donation system is put in place.

We headed to Dalbeattie to see if people were on the register.

William Laing, who lives in the city, thought that an "opt-in" system was already in place.

He said, "I thought you were automatically giving your organs now and you had to withdraw.

"I think I have filled something by giving my consent. I am in favor of that and I think that on my medical records, there is consent for my organs to be donated.

King Wong of Dalbeattie is already registered.

He said, "I think it's the right thing to do. When we are dead, it is us, they are not useful to us. It's like recycling our own body parts. "

Norma Wilson, who came from Crookston in Glasgow, entered the registry some time ago.

She said, "I just felt at the time that it would help someone else if something happened to me.

"I will not need it, no matter where I am, but if it will benefit someone else then everything is fine and that's why I did it."

"It was probably about 30 years ago that I had the little card."

Richard Marriott of Dalbeattie can not register.

He explained: "I have COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), so I can not do anything like it. I do not see anything wrong with it but I can not do it because of health problems.

"If I did not, I would consider it maybe. In general, I think it's a good idea.

If you wish to register for the organ donor registry, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk.