Police transport more than 3000 organs in life-saving service
Sunday, 27 July 2025 08:37:25 AM
For more than 40 years, highly-trained NSW Police Force officers have quietly carried out a life-saving service – transporting more than 3700 donated organs to patients in urgent need.
Time is of the essence when it comes to organ transplants and that is where Traffic and Highway Patrol officers assist.
The transports are coordinated with precision, ensuring that organs reach hospitals within strict medical timeframes, giving recipients the best possible chance at survival.
Officers have completed more than 3700 emergency medical transfers across the state and there have been more than 1300 in the last ten years.
Between 60 to 100 transports are usually carried out each year. There have been 86 transfers completed so far in 2025.
NSW Police work closely with transplant teams, hospitals, and aviation services to ensure organs are delivered swiftly and securely.
When a request comes in, highway patrol cars travel to a hospital or airport to collect the organ, which is stored inside a cooler box, along with a doctor or nurse, before the cars travel in convoy to another hospital or airport to deliver the organ.
The Transport Management Centre assists by providing a green light corridor and the patrol cars proceed under urgent duties with lights and sirens.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner David Driver said the important role was performed in addition to normal highway patrol duties.
“We provide safe, reliable and efficient transportation for organs and medical teams,” Assistant Commissioner Driver said.
“We can get a call for assistance at any time of the day, every day of the year.
“All members of the Highway Patrol undergo specialised driver training and the members of the units who conduct the transports undergo further training specific to medical transfers.
“Emergency medical transfers are a vital service, often helping to give people a second chance at life, and we are proud to provide this life-saving assistance to members of the community.”
DonateLife NSW Co-State Medical Director Dr Michael O’Leary said this year marked more than four decades of partnership between the NSW Police Force and the NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Service.
“The NSW Police Force plays a crucial role in making organ donation possible. Its support means donated organs get to the right place at the right time, and lives are saved as a result,” he said.
Dr O’Leary said there were about 1,800 Australians waiting for an organ transplant and more than 14,000 more on dialysis due to kidney failure who need Australia’s help.
“For those waiting, it can be a matter of life and death. Sadly, about 50 people die each year on the transplant waitlist,” he said.
“This DonateLife Week, I’m encouraging people across NSW to register as organ and tissue donors and to talk with their family about their decision.”