Farron raises concerns over drop in number of people signing up to the organ donor register

Figures obtained by South Lakes MP, Tim Farron, have shown that the number of people signing up to the organ donor register in Cumbria has dropped by more than 10% in 2011.

The information, acquired through a written parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Health, shows that the number of people in Cumbria who joined the register of organ donors dropped from 9,162 in 2010 to 8,133 in 2011. This goes along with a drop of almost 9% nationwide, and of over 14% in the Northwest.

Thanks to the campaign run by the Westmorland Gazette in 2010, which sought to raise awareness of organ donation and encourage people across the South Lakes to sign up, a record number of people added their names to the register, which has now reached a record 18 million nationally and saves hundreds of thousands of lives every year.

However, Tim is extremely concerned about the recent drop in the number of people signing up and is calling yet again for people to sign up to the register and ensure that healthy organs do not go to waste, but that they are used to save the lives of others.

Commenting today Tim said: "The Westmorland Gazette's campaign in 2010 did a fantastic job in encouraging people across South Lakeland to add their name to the organ donor register.

"I am extremely concerned however, that following the conclusion of this campaign residents appear to have forgotten that there are still thousands of people on the organ transplant waiting list. It is as important now as it will ever be to sign up and help to save a life, that's why I'm calling on each and every South Lakes resident who is eligible to add your names to the register."