What is tissue donation?

Tissue donation is the gift of such tissue as corneas and heart valves to help others. Most people can donate tissue.

The first successful cornea transplant was in 1905. Every year thousands of people with a severe eye disease or injury have their sight restored by donated corneas.

Heart valves are used to help children born with heart defects and adults with diseased or damaged valves. Unlike organs, it may be possible to donate tissue up to 48 hours after a person has died. In 2005-6 the following organs and tissues were donated from deceased donors:

• 4 Hearts
• 48 Kidneys
• 16 Livers
• 6 Pancreas
• 6 Lungs
• 92 Cornea
• 13 Heart valves