The number of people in Scotland who have signed up to be organ donors has reached a record high of more than two million. A total of 2,025,400 people had put their names forward for the NHS Organ Donor Register as of 31 March 2014 – almost 40% of the population.

In spite of the fact that the number of transplants involving “solid organs”, like hearts and livers, hit a new high of 342 in 2011-12, compared with 301 in 2010-11, there are still more than 600 people in Scotland that are waiting for a life-saving transplant. Across the UK three people die every day because they don’t get the organ they need in time. Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said, “Signing up to the register takes a couple of minutes, but could mean the difference between life and death for those waiting for a transplant.”