A NEW law is coming next spring which means that all adults in England will be considered to have agreed to donate their own organs when they die unless they record a decision not to donate or are in an excluded groups.

Now NHS Blood and Transplant wants people to take a little time at family get-togethers over Christmas to talk to their loved-ones about what they want to happen.

The ‘Pass it on’ campaign aims to motivate people across England to “Pass It On”, whether that’s by making the decision to pass on their organs to save lives; passing on their decision to family and friends or passing on information about the law change to other people.

The TV advert, which is due to air for the first time on 20th December, follows a woman holding a heart shaped balloon. She is seen leaving her home and sleeping family and travelling by bus as she observes different scenes of life that continue to go on around her. In the final scene she approaches a building as the sun rises, silently releasing the balloon with a smile. A waiting patient reaches out from a window to receive it, symbolising the gift of passing on life through organ donation. The patient looks down and gestures as if to say thank you. The advert ends with a reminder that the law around organ donation is changing in England from spring 2020 and urging people to find out more and register a decision.

Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant, Anthony Clarkson, said: “Christmas is an incredibly busy time of year; however, it should also be a time for family and thinking of others.

“We want everyone to know the law around organ donation is changing, to understand how it is changing and the choices available to them. We want them to make their organ donation decision and whatever that decision is, to share it with their family. A time like Christmas, when families come together, is a good opportunity to do this."

* To find out more about your choices, and to register your donation decision, visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call the dedicated advice line on 0300 303 2094.