UK organ transplant rates hit record levels in 2009-10

The number of organ transplant operations taking place in the UK in 2009-10 has reached its highest ever level.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHBT) has released its Annual Activity Report, showing that the number of UK transplant procedures rose by five percent in the last 12 months to reach a total of 3,706.

This number has been increasing progressively since 2000, while the amount of organ donors both living and dead has also achieved a new benchmark in the last year.

Sally Johnson, director of organ donation and transplantation at NHSBT, said these figures are indicative of the improved efficiency of hospital operations, which is helping to save more lives.

"But there is more we must do if we are to save the three people a day who are currently dying due to lack of a suitable organ," she added.

Last month, NHSBT responded positively to Professor Sir Gordon Duff's independent review into the mis-recording of data on the NHS Organ Donor Register, which it believes will bring benefits to UK patients.