NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde teams gathered at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Renal Unit this week to celebrate organ and tissue donation, and the opportunities it provides for patients.
The event marked Organ Donation Week 2025, a time used to remind everyone how important registering for organ and tissue donation is and a prompt for those who haven’t already done so, to do so now.
Recipients shared stories of how vital organ donation has been to them, and to their families. Most spoke not just about how it saved their lives but how it gave them a better chance at really living and enjoying life.
One of those stories came from Ambreen Malik, 33, from Hamilton, who has lived with chronic kidney disease for more than half her life. Ambreen has received three kidney transplants, the most recent earlier this year.
“Organ and tissue donation is important to me as it improves the quality of life. As an organ deteriorates and as its function decreases, you start to feel low, fatigued, it impacts the quality of life, and you don’t quite realise it as it is so slowly declining.
“Once you get your transplant, you realise the burst of energy, the focus and the potential that you have in yourself. It helps you to be more empowered and independent and do what you want to do. It gives you a better opportunity to live your life to the fullest.”
Joanne Brooks, Organ Donation Lead Nurse with the Scotland Organ Donation Team, said Ambreen’s experience highlights why registering your decision matters.
“Ambreen’s story is another reason why organ donation is so important. People may assume that once an organ is given, the recipient’s body accepts this and all is well forever. That’s not always the case. In some cases, the body can reject an organ, and further transplants may be required. A step as simple as ticking a box online, can make a huge difference to those who need it most.”
Currently, only 50.2% of people in Greater Glasgow and Clyde have registered an opt-in decision on the Organ Donation Register. A further 3.5% have opted out — meaning nearly 46% have yet to take any action.
Joanne also made a special appeal to people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, where registration rates remain low, just 5.3% in Scotland.
“Your decision to become an organ donor could increase the chances of someone from the same ethnic background finding a suitable match. Black, Asian and minority ethnic patients often have to wait significantly longer for a successful match, due to a shortage of suitably matched donors.
“If more people with these ethnic backgrounds donated their organs after death, or as a living donor, then transplant waiting times would reduce.”
When someone dies and organ or tissue donation is a possibility, it’s important we follow the most recent donation wish, if the person has registered their choice and shared their decision with their family, it can ease the burden on loved ones during a difficult time.
Last year (2024/25), NHSGGC facilitated 25 organ donors across its sites, resulting in 65 transplants across the UK. While this is a positive achievement, the need remains urgent with 625 patients in Scotland currently on the transplant waiting list (as of June 2025).
Register your decision for organ and tissue donation today at: https://www.organdonation.scot/yes
