RELUCTANCE to talk about transplants is leading to a shocking organ donation shortage the NHS has said, after it was revealed 10 Bury residents have died while on the waiting list in the last five years.

Families are now being encouraged to talk about donation by NHS Blood and Transplant.

The body is urging more people to tell their families that they want to save lives through donation during Organ Donation Week ­— which runs from September 3 to 9.

Dawn Lee, a specialist nurse and organ donation team manager for NHS Blood and Transplant in Manchester, said: “It’s tragic that so many people from Manchester have died waiting for a transplant – what is shocking is that many of those lives could have been saved had more families agreed to donate organs.

“People are dying every day because some families are not talking about donation. We need more families in Manchester to say yes to organ donation, so that more lives can be saved.”

Almost 180 people in Greater Manchester have died whilst waiting for a transplant in the last five years and, although the numbers of donors is increasing and waiting lists reducing, 6,000 people around the UK remain in need of a transplant.

Last year 254 people in the region, including 18 in Bury, had their lives saved by a transplant, such as 66-year-old Campbell Wallace who received a lung transplant to treat his end stage emphysema.

While on the waiting list, Mr Wallace's weight dropped to just 48kg and he was told he was too sick for the operation.

However, after being prescribed a dietician and with the support of his wife Carol, Mr Wallace was able to recover and go back on the list four weeks later.

Since the transplant he has made an amazing recovery, although he still requires monthly clinical visits and medication for the rest of his life.

Mr Wallace said: “I live every day to the full now. My family, a daughter, son and two grandsons, and not forgetting my lovely and long suffering wife Carol, will never be able to thank the donor family and the transplant team enough for what they have done for us.”

This week, as part of Organ Donation Week, prominent buildings around the country will be lit up by pink lights, the colour of the modern donor card, to support the NHS's campaign ­— including Manchester Town hall on September 4.

Ms Lee said: “Please, let your family know your decision and ask them if they want to be donors. Don’t leave your family guessing what you would have wanted to happen.

“We know that many families feel enormous pride and comfort at knowing that their relative went on to save lives through the gift of organ donation."

To join the millions already on the NHS Organ Donor Register visit organdonation.nhs.uk.