Northern Ireland

Health minister hails growing support for organ donation

55% of the population are now registered organ donors

Seána Maguire, Aquinas Grammar; Aidan Dawson, CEO Public Health Agency; Health Minister Mike Nesbitt; Transplant Consultant Tim Brown, and Dr Marie Dowling, Principal, Aquinas Grammar
Seána Maguire, Aquinas Grammar; Aidan Dawson, CEO Public Health Agency; Health Minister Mike Nesbitt; Transplant Consultant Tim Brown, and Dr Marie Dowling, Principal, Aquinas Grammar (DARREN KIDD)

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has welcomed the growing rate of support for organ donation.

In the 30th year of the NHS Organ Donor Register more than 1 million adults in the north have registered.

Last year ‘Dáithí’s Law,’ in recognition of seven year-old Dáithí Mac Gabhann who has been on the waiting list for a heart transplant since 2018, came into effect.

Adults in the north are now considered potential donors unless they choose to opt in or opt out, or are in an excluded group.

Mr Nesbitt said: “Organ donation is a lifesaving gift, and with the number of people awaiting transplant exceeding the number of available organs, it is essential that we do everything we can to encourage and facilitate it.

“That means continuously educating and promoting informed conversation, as well as improving the infrastructure to support both living and deceased donation.”

RegionOverall consent/authorisation rates for deceased donors in 2024Living donors per million of the population in 2023/24
Northern Ireland66%25.7
Scotland61%15.6
Wales56%14.7
England60%10.3