NHS history

The NHS Organ Donor Register is launched in October 1994. Find out more below

1990 - NHS Community Care Act

Now health authorities will manage their own budgets and buy health care from hospitals and other health organisations. In order to be deemed a 'provider' of such health care, organisations will become NHS trusts, i.e. independent organisations with their own managements.

1991 - first 57 NHS trusts established

New NHS Trusts will aim to encourage creativity and innovation and challenge the domination of the hospitals within a health service that is increasingly focused on services in the community.

1994 - NHS Organ Doner Register is set up

The NHS Organ Donor Register is launched in October 1994, following a five-year campaign by John and Rosemary Cox from the West Midlands. In 1989 their 24-year-old son Peter died of a brain tumour. He had asked for his organs to be used to help others. The Coxes said that there should be a register for people who wish to donate their organs.

By 2005 more than 12m have registered. Organ donation is needed as demand outstrips supply and this register ensures that when a person dies they can be identified as someone who's chosen to donate their organs.

1998 - NHS Direct launched

This service will go on to become one of the largest single e-health services in the world, handling more than half a million calls each month. It is the start of a growing range of convenient alternatives to traditional GP services – including the launch of NHS walk-in centres, which offer patients treatment and advice for a range of injuries and illnesses without the need to make an appointment.