The NHS has issued its first public alert over critically low organ-donor numbers in England, urging people to record their wishes and discuss them with relatives. More than 8,700 people are awaiting transplants, with nine dying each week, while donor numbers have fallen by 9 per cent since last year.

Although England has an opt-out system, families are still consulted and uncertainty can prevent donations. More than 700 potential donations were lost between April 2021 and March 2026, representing over 2,100 possible transplants; family support reaches 90 per cent when a person’s wishes are known, but falls to about 50 per cent when they are not.