VISITORS to the John Radcliffe will be urged to sign up to be an organ donor while waiting for the hospital lifts.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is working with NHS Blood and Transplant to promote organ donation to its staff, patients, and visitors and so has covered the doors to the main lifts with promotional messages.

There is an urgent need for more organ donors in Oxfordshire with 75 people currently in need of a lifesaving organ transplant.

The Headington hospital is promoting organ donation in the hope that it will make people think about it while waiting for the lift, and then go on to register.

Specialist nurse for organ donation at the trust, Rory Collier, said: “Organ donation saves lives and one organ donor can save or transform up to nine lives, and even more by donating tissue as well.

“I know that more families agree to donation if they know their loved one was on the Organ Donor Register.

“Save your family from having to guess what you would have wanted – join the NHS Organ Donor Register and let your family know your decision.

“One day it could be someone you love in need of a transplant.”

Over the past year, 91 people in Oxfordshire have had their lives saved or transformed thanks to deceased organ donors from across the UK.

However, three people a day still die waiting for a transplant due to the shortage of donors.

According to the trust 8 in 10 people agree it is important to tell loved ones about their views on organ donation after death, but only a third say their family knows their wishes.

For more information visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk