MORE and more Hampshire residents are becoming livesavers by signing up to be organ donors.

New figures have revealed 40 people from Hampshire became lifesaving deceased organ donors over the last year, helping the UK reach its highest ever number of donors.

There has been an 53 per cent increase in donors in Hampshire over the last decade according to figures released by NHS Blood and Transplant to mark the publication of its annual Transplant Activity Report on Monday last week.

Nationally, there was a record number of organ donors, with 1,574 people saving lives through deceased organ donation over the last year.

However the overall shortage of donors remains - there are still 146 people from Hampshire on the transplant waiting list and a donated organ is the last and only hope for many people on the list.

Sally Johnson, director of organ donation and transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to all the families in Hampshire who have chosen to say ‘yes’ to organ donation. Organ donation is the only hope for many desperately ill people. We know many families feel a sense of pride and comfort from their decision to save lives through organ donation. We want more people to have that opportunity.”

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register, go to organdonation.nhs.uk.