CLEOBURY Mortimer’s MP has called on his constituents to consider organ donation after new data showed the West Midlands was falling behind the national average.

In 2011/12 a record 1,088 dead donors gave 3,726 organs for transplant in the UK - an eight per cent increase on the previous year.

Despite that increase there were still too few organs available and more than 7,500 people were waiting for a transplant. Three on the waiting list died every day because they did not receive an organ transplant in time.

Conservative Philip Dunne said: “This week I learned that in West Midlands only 25 per cent of people are on the organ donor register compared to 30 per cent nationwide.

“Almost everyone would accept an organ transplant if they needed one but comparatively few have joined the NHS Organ Donor Register, so I encourage Shropshire residents to consider joining.

“This was brought home to me before Christmas, when I was contacted by a constituent who wanted me to know how grateful he was to the NHS for arranging for him to have a liver transplant at only three days notice. Organ donation can save lives of those in need.”