Doctors are urging residents to sign up to join the organ donation list as 88 people across Buckinghamshire face an uncertain Christmas while on the waiting list for a transplant.

This December, NHS Blood and Transplant is running the Christmas List campaign, to draw attention to the thousands of people who are waiting for a transplant across the UK.

And the team wants to encourage everyone to join the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Sally Johnson, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation, said: "Every year thousands of patients on the waiting list in Buckinghamshire and around the country have a Christmas clouded with anxiety and uncertainty.

"Some severely ill people might spend the whole of Christmas in hospital, just hoping they get a life-saving transplant. While for others, their condition may mean they can't enjoy Christmas traditions like the rest of us.

"So when you are spending time with your loved ones this Christmas, please take a few minutes to sign the Organ Donor Register, and tell your family you’d be proud to become a donor.

"By telling those closest to you that you want to donate you will remove the burden of them having to guess what you would have wanted at a difficult time."

Ms Johnson said transplant patients miss out on the festive season in different ways, from having to spend the whole holiday in hospital to missing out on Christmas dinner due to waiting for a kidney replacement.

Not all of those waiting will get the transplant they need. New figures show 34 patients in Bucks have died while on the transplant waiting list during the past 5 years.

Others have been more fortunate and will be able to celebrate Christmas looking ahead to a brighter future.

For instance, 50 patients across the county have received a transplant already this year thanks to the organ donation scheme.

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk, call 0300 123 23 23 or text SAVE to 62323. Once you’ve signed up tell those closest to you that you want to donate.