21 Septmeber 2026
This Organ and Tissue Donation Week (21-27 September 2026), we are encouraging people to leave no doubt when it comes to their organ and tissue donation decision.
In Scotland, everyone aged 16 and over has a choice when it comes to organ and tissue donation, whether that is to be a donor or not. Whatever your decision, it can be recorded on the Organ Donor Register, making your wishes clear and easy to check if needed.
Recording your decision and sharing it with your loved ones can help ensure your wishes are understood and respected. It can also provide clarity and reassurance for those closest to you at a difficult time.
Organ and tissue donation offers hope to people waiting for life-changing transplants and can leave a lasting legacy for others. A single donor can transform multiple lives, giving people the chance to spend more time with loved ones, regain their independence and look forward to the future.
This year's Organ and Tissue Donation Week also coincides with National Eye Health Week, highlighting the ongoing need for cornea donors. Cornea donation can restore sight and make a significant difference to someone's quality of life.
To help raise awareness locally, members of the NHS Borders Organ and Tissue Donation Committee will be at the Transport Interchange in Galashiels on Tuesday (22 September) afternoon to chat to you, answer questions and hand out campaign materials.
Harriet Campbell, Chair of the Organ and Tissue Donation Committee at NHS Borders, said: "For people waiting on a transplant, organ and tissue donation can be life-changing. It can mean more time with family, improved health and the opportunity to look forward to the future again.
"That's why it's so important to make your decision known. Whatever you decide, recording it and sharing it with those closest to you can provide reassurance and ensure your wishes are respected."
To find out more, or to record your decision, visit www.organdonation.scot or call 0300 123 23 23.