Get the facts about organ and tissue donation

Discover the truth behind some common misconceptions about organ and tissue donation.
  
Your donation decision is important, whatever it may be. Use this information to help you make an informed choice, and then tell your family and friends.

COVID-19

Age limit

Medical conditions

Non-blood donors

Ethnicity

Body donation

Can I choose which organs and tissue I want to donate?

Everyone has a choice as to whether or not they want to become an organ and tissue donor, and if you agree to donate, you can choose to donate either some or all of your organs and tissue.

By registering to become an organ and tissue donor you have the option to donate organs such as your heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and small bowel and tissue such as heart valves, tendons and corneas. All of these forms of donation can greatly enhance or even save the life of someone who is on the transplant waiting list.

Organ donation

Information about what organs you can donate and why they are needed.

Tissue donation

Information about what tissue you can donate and why it is needed.

Why is there a need for more organs and tissue?

With around 500 people each year waiting on a transplant and not enough donors to help all of these people, all of us can do something to help, whatever our age, and whatever our health.

Only around 1% of people die in the rare circumstances where organ and tissue donation may be able to go ahead, so every opportunity for donation is very precious.

Are organs sometimes bought and sold? 

No, this is absolutely not true. The transplant laws in the UK absolutely prohibit the sale of human organs or tissue.