Twenty-one people had their lives saved or transformed thanks to the generosity of strangers.

Eleven people who died at Worthing Hospital or St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester had their organs donated to those critically in need.

A report to Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust board today said the donations led to 16 kidney, five liver and two lung transplants. The numbers cover April 2013 to March 2014.

Although organ donation is about saving lives, the report also highlighted how the 16 kidney donations could potentially save the NHS about £480,000 a year in the next decade.

This is in terms of the cost of dialysis and other treatment for patients with kidney failure.

The report said although referral rates for potential organ donation were improving, more work still had to be done. It said ongoing education and awareness training was needed to ensure staff got the timing and planning right when it came to approaching relatives to ask about possible donation.

The trust is in the process of appointing a new specialist nurse for organ donation, who will liaise between relatives and staff.

The annual report by the trust’s organ donation committee highlighted other work carried out during the year, including establishing special thanksgiving artwork at Worthing and St Richard’s and holdings a special service at Chichester Cathedral. It has also been involved in training within and outside the trust and making presentations to women’s institutes in the UK.

Future plans include upgrading the family room at St Richard’s intensive care unit and holding organ donation awareness talks to groups of GPs in Worthing and Chichester.

The report stated: “The committee is committed to improving organ donation rates with an ongoing trust-wide education and awareness strategy aimed at key stakeholders.”

NHS Blood and Transplant is urging people to sign up to the organ donor register and let their families know their wishes.

This makes it easier for families if they find themselves in a situation where they will be asked to give consent.

For more information, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk