Doctors in three B.C. hospitals won't have to take on the uncomfortable task of requesting organ donations from dying patients starting this November, announced B.C. Transplant Tuesday.

The provincial health body is hiring three dedicated transplant coordinators, nurses who will liaise with family members about potential organ donations, taking the onerous task off doctors' shoulders. The nurses will start the pilot program this fall in Vancouver General Hospital, Royal Columbian Hospital and Kelowna General Hospital.

Programs like this have already been successful in Ontario and the U.S.

"Last year we had close to 50 donors that were deceased," said Greg Grant, provincial executive director for B.C. Transplant. "The really good programs in the world are getting three times that number."

He said many doctors are nervous that somebody might think they're after people's organs, despite polls showing the majority of British Columbians aren't opposed to donating. The trick comes down to addressing how to pop the question.

"That conversation is not an easy one. So having a separate person with a distance is the best way to do it," Grant said. "We're trying to make sure everybody gets asked where it's appropriate."

The project will be funded by B.C. Transplant.