Karen Bradley joined the launch of a new campaigning coalition in Parliament recently, Transplant 2013, to support an increase organ donation and transplantation.
Karen said: "There are 8,000 people waiting for an organ transplant in Britain today but the sad fact is that 1,000 will die every year for want of a new organ.
"The good news is that that there's been a 19% increase in deceased organ donors in the NHS since the Organ Donation Taskforce recommendations in 2008, but we need to do a lot more to reach the target of 50% increase by 2013.
"The NHS does a good job but we need to do more to identify donors and encourage a culture of donation. I'm looking forward to more campaigning with Transplant 2013 in Parliament.
"Let's make organ transplants a life-saving reality for those who need them in Staffordshire Moorlands. I hope everyone will consider joining the Organ Donor Register and, of course, talking to their families about their wishes."
Transplant 2013 was established by patient groups, professional bodies and industry to represent the combined voice of the transplantation community and to support the implementation of existing national initiatives to substantially increase the numbers of organs being transplanted in the NHS.
The launch of Transplant 2013 was attended by transplant patients, senior clinicians, patient groups, MPs and Peers. The launch was addressed by Keith Rigg, Chair of Transplant 2013 and President of the British Transplantation Society and by Chris Rudge, National Clinical Director for Transplantation at the Department of Health who gave an update on progress of the Organ Donation Taskforce.
Also at the launch and pictured with Karen is Alex Hole, who is the Treasurer of Transplant 2013 and who received a live kidney transplant from his father