A MAN waiting for a life-saving liver transplant has urged people to sign the Organ Donor Register after new figures placed Salford well below the national average.

Andy Loates, who has been waiting eight months for a liver transplant, has called on people to sign up after it was revealed that only 21.9 per cent of Salford residents hold membership, below the national 27 per cent average.

"It’s disappointing to see such low figures and something has to change," said Andy, 35, from Mosley Common.

"I obviously see the situation from the other side of the coin because I’m waiting and have been for eight months but something has to be done."

The new figures were released as part of National Transplant Week, which aims to encourage people to sign the Organ Donor Register.

And Andy says the only way to make a difference is to educate people or change the law and introduce and opt out system.

"Before I got ill I was the same as the next man and never gave it any thought," he said.

"You just don’t think about it until it happens to you.

"As much as anything it’s about educating people and letting them know what they can do.

"One thing that is still shocking is that even if you do sign up to the Organ Donor Register it still comes down to the next of kin to decide and we’re the only country in Europe where we have this.

"That has to change.

"I think we need an opt out system because it’s not that people are against becoming donors it’s just not something they think about until they’re touched by the situation and it affects them."

Andy fell ill last October when an autoimmune disease began attacking his liver.

His health deteriorated so much that in November last year he married wife Claire, 25, for fear of not making it to their wedding day, which was originally planned for March this year.

Since then, Andy’s health has improved but the couple still face an agonising wait for the phonecall which could save Andy’s life.

"To be blunt about it I was on death’s door when we got married because of lots of infections," he said.

"My health has improved a bit but I still can’t go to work and I am restricted as to what I can do.

"I just have to keep up to speed with my tablets and vitamins, try and maintain a satisfying level of health and wait for the call but there’s such a lack of donors.

"I urge people to sign up, it’s one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make.

"It’s like all the posters and campaigns say, ‘give the gift of life’."

In the UK more than 9,000 people need an organ transplant and more than 400 people die every year while waiting.

To sign up to the Organ Donor Register go to: www.uktransplant.org.uk.