More corneal transplant operations could be carried out at Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital after the site was awarded a grant from
NHS UK Transplant.
A spokesman for
NHS UK Transplant said: "We would urge anyone wanting to donate their organs on their death to register as a donor."
Chris Rudge, director of
NHS UK Transplant, said: "There is a critical shortage of donated organs and many more people could receive a life-saving transplant with the donor's wishes being given priority.
Chris Rudge, managing and transplant director of
NHS UK Transplant, said, 'Donated kidneys are a precious national resource and save or transform hundreds of lives each year.
The massive mail-out, a joint initiative by the Department of Health and
NHS UK Transplant, will reach eight million homes across the country, as the forms are being sent with the new European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
The Prime Minister also met donor families, a leading transplant surgeon and representatives of
NHS UK Transplant, which is responsible for organ donation and transplantation services in the UK.
A spokeswoman for
NHS UK Transplant, the authority responsible for organ donations, said: "While 90% of the public say they support organ donation only 11.6m - 19% of the population - have registered their wish to help others after their deaths.
NHS UK Transplant is delivering the registration forms to more than 10, 500 GP practices across the UK, including hundreds in Merseyside.
If we matched them, 504 more kidney patients, 64 more heart patients and 231 more liver patients would have transplants each year, the annual report of
NHS UK Transplant said yesterday.
NHS UK Transplant said millions of registration forms had been distributed in the last nine years, offering people the chance to join the NHS Organ Donor Register.
"The results are very pleasing," said Sue Sutherland, chief executive of
NHS UK Transplant. "The increased number of transplants, which exceed the significant improvements of the previous year, should be set against falling death rates, changes in neurosurgical practice and a relative refusal rate of 43%."
Sue Sutherland, chief executive of
NHS UK Transplant said: 'The results are very pleasing.'