THE NHS is calling for East Cornwall families to discuss organ donation as national figures drop for the first time in more than a decade.

Figures published recently revealed that 30 Cornwall residents died waiting for a transplant in the past five years and 73 people in the county are currently waiting for a transplant.

Across the UK in 2014/15, the number of people donating organs fell for the first time in 11 years.

NHS Blood and Transplant is highlighting the figures after publishing the annual Transplant Activity Report, which details organ donation and transplantation across the UK. 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 Cornwall, 25 people's lives were saved or improved thanks to deceased donation. The organisation said more lives would be saved if more families agreed to donate their loved one's organs after death.

In Cornwall, nine people also benefited from a living donor transplant where donors gave a kidney or part of a liver.

NHS Blood and Transplant is asking people in East Cornwall to join the Organ Donor Register and then tell their family and friends about their decision. Families are much more likely to agree to donation if they know it is what their loved one wanted.

Sally Johnson, NHS Blood and Transplant's director of organ donation and transplantation, said: 'We are truly grateful to the deceased donors who enabled 25 people in Cornwall to receive an organ transplant last year. Their donations have saved and improved lives. Sadly, 30 people from Cornwall have died while 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 to 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 217,109 people from Cornwall who are already on the NHS Organ Donor Register. Should the time come, your family will know you want to donate your organs to help save others.'

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register visit http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk">www.organdonation.nhs.uk