THE number of organ donors in Bolton has dropped for the first time in more than a decade – with 207 people having died in the past five years while waiting for a transplant.

New figures released by NHS Blood and Transplant show there are 606 people in Greater Manchester currently waiting for a life-saving transplant.

But across the region, 39 people died last year because they did not receive a new organ in time.

Last year 148 lives were saved by organ donations from people who had died, and 54 people benefitted from a living donor transplant where donors gave a kidney or part of their liver.

There are currently 775,282 people in Greater Manchester on the UK organ donor register, but health chiefs say many more lives could be saved if more Bolton families agree to donate their loved one’s organs after death.

Sally Johnson, NHS Blood and Transplant’s director of organ donation and transplantation, said: “We cannot hope to save more lives unless there is a revolution in attitudes towards organ donation. We need everyone talk about organ donation with their families and agree to donate if ever they are asked.

“We understand that families are expected to consider donation in their darkest hour.

“So we would remind everyone - tell those closest to you now if you want to donate your organs and record that decision by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register. Should the time come, your family will know you want to donate your organs to help to save others.”

Graham Brushett, a former teacher at Rivington and Blackrod High School, had his life saved by a heart and kidney transplant.

He said: "It is essential not only that people sign up to the organ donor register, but also that they have that difficult conversation with loved ones.

"That needs to be done ahead of the situation so that family members know, if the worst comes to the worst, what their loved ones had intended.

"There is a lot of discussion at the moment about an opt-out system.

"But I am in favour of opt-in as nine out of 10 families will support their loved ones if they know of their intentions already."

Bolton hosted the Transplant Games last summer, with hundreds of athletes who had undergone operations descending on the town to take part.

The Bolton News campaigned throughout 2014 for more people in the town to sign the organ donor register, with nearly 5,000 having done so by the end of the year.

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register: go to organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 2323.