THE number of people in Glasgow who donated a kidney to a stranger doubled last year.

Six people changed the lives of patients waiting for a transplant across the UK, freeing them from dialysis, compared to three the previous year.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is hoping to encourage more people to consider becoming altruistic donors.

More than 500 people in Scotland are on the transplant waiting list, the majority of whom need a new kidney.

Six kidney patients living in the Central Belt also benefitted from donors unknown to them last year, compared to four in 2015.

The UK introduced altruism as a form of donation in 2006 and last year marked the 500th donor.

Julie Glen, live donor coordinator, said: “We had an event in September to raise awareness about live kidney donation.

“This one is slightly different because we now want to focus on altruistic kidney donation.

“People who just want to donate for the greater good.

“They have thought about it and just believe it’s a good thing to do for society.

“We want to try to advertise that because not everyone is aware of altruism.

“It’s a very brave thing to do. It won’t be without risks because it’s a surgical procedure and we have to carefully select our donors.

“We are even more particular about that for our altruistic donors.

“If it’s a mother donating a kidney to their child, there is an obvious reason for that.

“Her concept of risk will be completely different from someone who is donating to a stranger.

“We’ve lagged behind a bit, in terms of altruistic donors, but last year we had six.”

The Evening Times is campaigning for an opt-out transplant system to be introduced in Scotland to help increase the number of organs for transplant.

l An information event on altruistic donation is being held next Wednesday on level four of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. To find out more email -gg_uhb_renallivedonation@nhs.net