Brits will be asked to become organ donors on passport applications under plans to boost the register

BRITS will be urged to become organ donors when they apply for passports as part of plans to expand the register.

The opt-out system assumes everyone is willing to donate, but families can block the operation if someone doesn’t confirm their wish before they die.

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More than 7,000 people are on transplant waiting lists, but less than half of the population – about 45 percent – ​​are confirmed donors.

Only one percent of people’s organs are suitable for transplantation after death because they cannot be used if they are diseased or damaged.

Kidney transplants are the most common, but every year hundreds of people die waiting because of a lack of donors.

Registrations can also save patients who need a new heart, lung, liver, pancreas, small intestine or other tissue such as cornea, skin or bone.

Health Secretary Neil O’Brien said: “Each organ donor can save and improve up to nine lives, which is why we are working hard to expand the NHS organ donor register.”

“We hope to inspire more people to register – the more people we can get to join the register, the more lives we can save.”

A link to online passport renewal applications will be added next year.

Millions have already signed up using links to DVLA driving license applications and the NHS mobile app.

Dr. Jo Farrar, head of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “People want us to make registering their organ donation decision as easy as possible.

“We hope this will give more people the chance to save more lives when applying for passports.”

This week is NHS Organ Donation Week.