The number of people in Tayside who have registered to be organ donors has leaped to record levels.
Health chiefs say that 45% of locals are now signed up to donate, compared to 32% five years ago.
Dr Stephen Cole, NHS Tayside intensive care consultant, told the Tele that the increase is down to a number of factors — including campaigns and strategies to publicise the information.
He also said that a significant amount of work had gone into raising awareness of the organ donor register across Tayside, which he said was down to the hard work of health board staff.
He said: “The increase makes us one of the highest in Scotland. The response we have had in the last year has been great.
“We are now at a point where nearly half of the population in Tayside is on the register. I just want people to have a conversation with their nearest and dearest about whether it is for them or not and, if they are willing, to sign up.
“Around Tayside it is a very good situation, where people have thought about it and signed up.
“That also includes some children — anyone over the age of 12 can sign up to the organ donor register.
“Organs can only be utilised if they are from patients in intensive care at hospital. The more people that sign up and make their views known the better.”
Dr Cole said that a particular success story around the region concerned kidney transplants.
He said: “Of those people waiting for a transplant, 80% of people are waiting for a kidney.
“It is a never-ending battle, but what we are now seeing for the first time is the number of patients being referred for kidney dialysis is starting to fall.
“There are many other organ transplants including the heart, lungs and liver. We can now even restore a person who is basically blind’s sight with a corneal transplant.”
Dr Cole added that a high percentage of people are not aware that they are able to be an organ donor.
He said: “No-one likes to think about what happens to us at the end of our lives but it is a situation where they are going to be saving someone and giving them the chance to live a fuller life.
“People often think that they are too old or have too many health problems and that they can’t register, but anyone can sign up to be an organ donor.”