Since the Dice Law came into force in Northern Ireland a year ago, almost 40,000 people have joined the organ donor register to give the gift of life to others.
The figures, released to mark the first anniversary of the law being changed to allow for an opt-out system for organ donation, also showed an increase in the number of organ donors.
The figures show 64 blood donors came from Northern Ireland, up from 59 in 2022/23, and have saved 158 lives across the UK in the past year.
A total of 79 patients have undergone life-saving transplant surgery in the north over the past year.
Other figures show that 153 people are still waiting to be “called up” in the north.
Around 10 to 15 people die each year in Northern Ireland while waiting for a life-saving transplant.
From 1 June 2023, all adults in Northern Ireland will be considered potential organ donors, unless they refuse or belong to an excluded group.
The aim of the Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill is to increase the number of organs available to people who need transplants.
Last year there was an increased public awareness campaign about the changes to the law and this has led to an increase in the number of people registering their wishes on the NHS organ donor register.
A total of 53% of people will have their decision registered in 2022/23, increasing to 56% in 2023/24.
There are currently 1,053,541 people registered as organ donors in Northern Ireland, of which more than 38,000 have done so since the law was changed, and of those, around 10,000 were registered in the first three months of this year alone.
Consent rates for organ donation also continue to rise and are expected to rise from 65% in 2022/23 to 68% in 2023/24.
A total of 73 families agreed to donate organs in 2023/24, with 64 families proceeding with the process.
Of the 73 consenting families, 54 expressed the decision to opt in, and of these, 50 proceeded with organ donation.
That's a 93% agreement rate when a loved one's decision is known.
The remaining 14 organ donations were based on the new “deemed consent” law, where the patient had not consented or refused to donate and did not belong to an excluded group.
A year after the law, known as the “Dice Law”, was passed, the west Belfast boy who sparked the reform movement is still waiting for the “call”.
June 1 also marks six years since Daitha McGovern, 7, was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and was placed on the waiting list.
There are currently five children on the transplant waiting list in Northern Ireland.
The McGovern family campaigned tirelessly for soft opt-out laws and to promote organ donation.
“Celebrating the first anniversary of The Law of Dice brings great pride and gratitude to our family,” his father, Martijn, said.
“It has felt like moving mountains at times to get this new law implemented. It's hard to believe it's already been a year since it was implemented.”
“This journey has seemed impossible at times, but we are incredibly proud to have played a role in making it happen.
“Knowing that lives are being saved in our son's name is a wonderful legacy.”
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: “It is incredibly positive to see the numbers of organ donors and families supporting organ donation growing, giving hope to people in desperate need of a life-saving transplant.”
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