A hospital chief has told how a kidney transplant gave him the "gift of life".

Matthew Hopkins, chief executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said he received two donated kidneys and hoped his donor's family felt their loved one "lived on in him."

Evesham Journal:

He said: “The way organ donation has impacted me over the years is really quite profound.

"I have known it was likely I would need a kidney transplant as far back as 1993.

“I had a long time to come to terms with the fact that this would be something I would need.

"However, that was inevitably dependant on somebody giving their organ to me either whilst they are alive or when they have sadly passed."

Mr Hopkins spoke out to mark Organ Donation Week. This year, the campaign is focusing on how the law around organ donation in England has changed.

Under the 'opt out system,' everyone is automatically assumed to become an organ donor when they die, unless they have made it known that they do not wish to donate.

To 'opt out' you need to register your decision and Mr Hopkins urged people to discuss the issue with their families.

Mr Hopkins said: "I am really delighted there has been a change in law. I think the conversation about organ donation and death is difficult, especially in our culture.

"The change to make it ‘opt out’ is absolutely the right decision, but it can’t be in the absence of a proper conversation about what you want to happen to your organs if you die suddenly.

“Telling your loved ones is crucial, it makes it easier on them to make decisions if they know your wishes. The impact organ donation has had for me is quite literally life and death. I have been given the gift of life.

“It won’t bring back the loved one who sadly died, but I hope their family feel a sense of reassurance and pride that that the person they lost lives on in me.”