Health Minister Jillian Skinner has urged the people of NSW to offer a simple expression of thanks to organ and tissue donors and families who give the gift of life.

This Sunday (November 20) is national DonateLife Thank You Day, when Australians honour living and deceased organ and tissue donors and their families by creating and sharing a message on social media as part of the #ThankYouDay campaign.

“I am proud of the NSW Government’s leadership and support for organ donation and the willingness of NSW residents to sign up to become donors,” Mrs Skinner said.

“Sunday is the designated day to thank all donors and their families for giving the life-changing gift of organ donation - but we can honour them on any day by signing up to become a donor ourselves.”

In 2015, NSW recorded its highest ever number of deceased organ donors (127), surpassing the previous record of 102 donors in 2013 and exceeding the 2015 target of 116 donors. As of the end of September, there were 95 deceased organ donors in NSW in 2016 - the highest year-to-date figure in more than five years.

“Organ donation is an incredibly rare event - less than two per cent of deaths in NSW hospitals occur in ways that open up the possibility for donation,” Mrs Skinner said.

“Next-of-kin can override the wish of the deceased so I urge potential donors to register with the Australian Organ Donor Register then, crucially, to let your loved ones know your donation decisions. One conversation today could save many lives in the future.”

In 2012, the NSW Government released a plan to boost the transplantation rate. Initiatives included the closure of the NSW Roads and Maritime Services (formerly RTA) organ donor register - moving to the single national Australian Organ Donor Register, administered by Medicare - and targeted placement of trained donation specialists in hospitals to manage the difficult conversation with grieving families.

For more information on the national day of thanks, visit DonateLife - Thank You Day.