September 22, 2026

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is urging the public to say yes to organ donation, as latest figures show more people than ever before are waiting for a transplant.

There are currently more than 150 people in Northern Ireland waiting to receive the life-saving call, while across the UK the figure is more than 8700, the highest number on record.

The Trust is using Organ Donation Week (September 21-27) to highlight the urgent and ongoing need for organ donors, while paying tribute to the generosity of donors and families whose decisions continue to save and transform lives.

Dr George Gardiner, the Northern Trust’s Executive Director of Medicine, said:

“Organ donation can save and transform lives, but there continues to be a significant need for more donors. Every day there are people waiting for a transplant that could give them the chance of a longer, healthier life.

“During Organ Donation Week we want to encourage people to make their wishes known and, importantly, talk to their loved ones about their decision. Organ donation is only possible because of the generosity of donors and the support of families who make decisions at an incredibly difficult time.”

Although Northern Ireland operates an opt-out system for organ donation, family support remains essential. This means it is still crucial for people to record their decision and discuss their wishes with those closest to them.

The importance of organ donation was brought into focus at the Trust’s recent Gift of Life Day, where healthcare staff, transplant recipients, donor families and organ donation specialists gathered to reflect on the life-changing impact of donation.

Among those sharing their experience was 19-year-old Connie Taylor from Carrickfergus, who received a life-saving multi-organ transplant when she was just 13 months old.

Now studying at Ulster University in Belfast, with a passion for musical theatre and filmmaking, Connie is living life to the full thanks to the decision made by one donor family almost two decades ago.

She said: “I was born with a rare condition (with a name longer than the alphabet) that meant my digestive and urinary organs didn’t have adequate muscle function. Upon diagnosis, I was subsequently put on the transplant waiting list.

“There was over a year of anxious waiting as my health continued to decline, but I received my transplant in 2008 in Birmingham Children’s Hospital, when the right donor match was found just in time.

“I was lucky enough to receive a liver, stomach, pancreas and small bowel from a young boy who sadly passed away in an accident. His mother’s brave decision to donate his organs saved not only my life but, I understand, at least three others. I am eternally grateful to both of them.

“I strongly encourage everyone and anyone to sign up for organ donation as you could give someone like me a second chance at life.”

Last year, ten people donated their organs after death in the Northern Trust area, resulting in 26 transplants, including life-saving heart and lung transplants. Those donations gave hope and a second chance to people and families facing some of the most difficult circumstances of their lives.

Dr Gardiner added: “Every donor and every family who supports donation leaves an incredible legacy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who helps give others the chance of a longer, healthier life.”

As Organ Donation Week is marked across Northern Ireland, the Trust is encouraging everyone to register their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register and talk openly with family members about their wishes.

For more information about organ donation, and to confirm your donor registration, visit www.organdonationni.info or call 0300 123 23 23.