MORE than 150 people from the region have died in the last five years waiting for a transplant, a shocking new report shows.

The figures have been released by NHS Blood and Transplant as part of a report that reveals the number of people donating organs in the UK fell for the first time in 11 years in 2014/15 - despite 119 people currently waiting for a replacement organ.

In County Durham, 28 people have died while waiting for an organ transplant since 2010.

In Tyne and Wear, 84 people have died while in North Yorkshire the number is 49.

NHS Blood and Transplant said that on average, three people in the UK die each day in need of an organ transplant.

Currently, four out of ten families do not give permission to donate when approached.

The latest figures show that last year in the North-East and North Yorkshire, more than 130 people’s lives were saved or improved thanks to organ donation from someone who had died.

Doctors said that more lives would be saved if more families agreed to donate their loved one’s organs after death.

More than 50 people also benefitted from a living donor transplant where donors gave a kidney or part of a liver.

NHS Blood and Transplant is asking people in the region to join the Organ Donor Register and then tell their family and friends about their decision.

Sally Johnson, NHS Blood and Transplant’s director of organ donation and transplantation, said: “We are truly grateful to the deceased donors who enabled 28 people in County Durham to receive an organ transplant last year. Their donations have saved and improved lives. Sadly, 23 people from Durham have died while waiting on the transplant waiting list in the past five years.

“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 hundreds of thousands from the region who are already on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300-123-2323.