Hundreds 'needlessly die' while waiting for lifesaving transplant

OVER the past decade, more than 600 people have died or been removed from the transplant waiting list in the North East and Yorkshire before getting the organ they were waiting for.

- By SAM VOLPE Health reporter

That's according to newly-released NHS data shared to mark Organ Donation Week.

Those removed from the list are usually removed when they become too sick to receive a transplant.

The NHS Blood and Transplant organisation highlighted that, nationally, more than 12,000 people have either died or been removed from the list prior to transplant surgery in the last ten years.

The figures show 4,900 people died while actively waiting for a lifesaving transplant with 7,700 removed from the active list after being deemed too sick to receive one.

The NHS body said this highlighted the need to boost organ donation.