AS Organ Donation Week comes to a close, Justin Tomlinson is calling on families in Swindon to start a conversation about the vital issue.

Every day across the UK, around three people who could have benefited from a transplant die because there aren’t enough organ donors.

In North Swindon, the constituency Mr Tomlinson represents, there are currently 11 people waiting for transplant.

Many people believe that in order to be a donor, all you have to do is join the NHS Organ Donor Register.

However, if you die in circumstances where your organs could be of vital use, your family would be approached by specialist nurses and asked to support your decision to donate.

NHS Blood and Transplant, the organ donation organisation for the UK, have released figures that show only 47 per cent of families agree to organ donation if they are unaware of their relative’s decision to be a donor.

Yet almost 90 per cent of families gave their consent where the mind-set of the person who died was known.

Mr Tomlinson said: “NHS Blood and Transplant’s figures show why it is vital for families to talk about organ donation, so that if the worst should happen, your loved ones aren’t left guessing about your decision.

“There are 39,233 of us from North Swindon on the NHS Organ Donor Register - but how many of us have simply signed up and not told our family?

“It is vital that we agree to become organ donors if we can. By joining the NHS Organ Donor Register and sharing your decision with your family you could save lives.”

To find out more you can visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.