NHS Blood and Transplant said there were 242 patients needing lungs in 2013 — now it is 354.
Transplant chiefs are urging more people to join the donor register.
Most of Britain’s 25m donors are over 50 and many have health problems which mean their lungs are not usable.
NHS spokesman John Forsythe said: “Last year, 65 people died on the lung transplant waiting list.
“Many of those lives could have been saved had more families said yes to donation. Sadly, many donation opportunities are lost because families don’t know if their loved one wanted to be a donor or not.”
Alison Cook from the British Lung Foundation said: “About a quarter of patients waiting for a lung transplant will either die on the waiting list, or lose their chance of life because they have become too frail while waiting.”
HOW YOU CAN SAVE A LIFE
Transplants can save or greatly enhance the lives of other people.
But this relies on donors and their families agreeing to donate their organ or tissue.
There are two types of organ donations; when a person is living and when a person has died.
In death, most organs can be donated.
While a donor is still living, they can choose to donate a kidney, a small section of their liver, discarded bone from a hip or knee replacement and also their amniotic membrane.
Doctors can only use organs and tissues from a registered donor with the families consent after they die.
So if you are a donor, make sure you have discussed your wishes with family and friends.
To register to donate your organs visit organdonation.nhs.uk
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