Donation and Transplantation Plan for Scotland

This plan for 2021-2026 sets out the Scottish Government's priorities for increasing organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

Despite significant progress over the last decade, there are still around 500 people waiting for a transplant in Scotland.

The Scottish Government consulted on ways to increase donation including moving to an opt-out system. Following considerable support for the proposal, Scotland introduced a deemed authorisation (opt out) system for organ and tissue donation on 26 March 2021.

The Scottish Government published the Donation and Transplantation Plan for Scotland: 2021-2026, developed with the Scottish Donation and Transplant Group (SDTG). This builds on the progress made in recent years to improve transplantation and organ donation and sets out a number of recommendations to enable more of those people who desperately need a transplant to access one.

Find out more about the Scottish Donation and Transplant Group that provides expert advice and makes recommendations to the Scottish Government on matters relating to organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

Read the Donation and Transplantation Plan for Scotland: 2021-2026 which sets out the Scottish Government's priorities for increasing organ and tissue donation and transplantation over the next five years.

The UK organ donation strategy

The Scottish plan complements NHS Blood and Transplant's UK Organ Donation and Transplantation: Meeting the Need Strategy which sets the ambition for the next 10 years, building upon past successes while planning service improvements for the future.

The new strategy, supported by all four UK Health Ministers, sets out the vision for the UK to be a world leader in organ donation and transplantation.