Campaign to target more organ donors

Published on Monday 27 September 2010 11:43

A £500,000 campaign has been launched in Edinburgh to encourage more people to sign up for organ donation.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon visited the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary to talk to patients whose lives had been saved by such procedures.

She wants to use them as examples of how important organ donation can be.

There are hundreds of people across Scotland waiting for a suitable donation of an organ, and health chiefs are conscious there is a huge gap between those willing in principle to donate and those who actually sign up to the list.

Ms Sturgeon said: "Nobody likes to think about dying or losing a loved one but organ donation can make something positive come out of tragedy.

"In Scotland there are more than 600 people waiting for an organ that will give them a second chance at life.

"But sadly for some of those waiting, an organ will not be found in time and the loss of that person will have an impact on many people."

To sign up to the organ donation register visit www.organdonationscotland.org or text the word "life" to 61611.