Black and Ethnic Minority donors
Birmingham needs more people from black and asian communities to donate.
This is because people from these communities are more likely to develop conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and certain forms of hepatitis than white people. This makes them more likely to need a transplant.
In general, 31% of people waiting for an organ transplant are from black, asian and minority ethnic communities. Sadly, many will die waiting due to a lack of donors.
One in five people who died on the waiting list in 2017/2018 was from a black, asian or ethnic minority background.
Although many black and asian patients are able to receive a transplant from a white donor, for many the best match will come from a donor from the same ethnic background. This is because tissue type is linked to our heritage.
