THE number of people living in Hampshire currently known to be alive thanks to organ transplants has gone past the 1,250 mark.

A figure of 1,257 was revealed by NHS Blood and Transplant, whose annual Transplant Activity Report, published on Tuesday, shows the UK-wide number of people alive thanks to transplants has reached the milestone figure of 50,000.

The NHS believes more people are alive thanks to transplants because of improving survival rates and increased public commitment to donation. Last year 152 people in Hampshire had transplants, compared to 96 five years ago.

In Hampshire, the number of people on the Organ Donor Register has increased by 27% over the past five years. There are now 715,271 people on the NHS Organ Donor register in Hampshire, compared to 563,923 five years ago.

So, NHS Blood and Transplant is now urging people in Hampshire to help even more people to survive by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Anyone can sign up as a donor, regardless of age or existing medical conditions and donors can save or transform up to nine lives by donating their organs.

Sally Johnson, director of organ donation and transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “More people than ever in Hampshire are committing to organ donation and that is saving more lives than ever. It’s amazing to picture all the people now alive today thanks to organ donation and think of all the families and children who have grown up thanks to donors.

“However there is still a long way to go. Around three people still die a day in need of a transplant. Every one of those people who die could be a mother or a father, a daughter or a son, who might be alive today.

"We don’t want anyone in Hampshire to miss the opportunity to save lives through organ donation. Please join the NHS Organ Donor Register. It only takes two minutes.”

To join the register, go to www.organdonation.nhs.uk.