Wales today marks the 10th anniversary of a radical
change to the organ donation laws – becoming the first part of
the UK to introduce deemed consent to help save the lives of
hundreds of people in need of an organ transplant
The Welsh system assumes a person wishes to donate their organs
after their death unless they have specifically declined by
opting out during their lifetime.
Families will always be consulted about organ donation and are
more likely to support it if they know it is what their loved one
wanted.
Since the legislation came into force on 1 December 2015, more
than 2,000 organs have been donated in Wales
This includes 640 organs after deemed consent from 198 deceased
donors, with 550 of these being transplanted
The groundbreaking legislation has successfully increased the
number of potential organ donors and the rest of the UK has since
followed Wales' lead by changing the law to introduce deemed
consent.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Isabel Oliver
said:
“Wales was the first country in the UK to introduce deemed
consent. This important legislation has saved or changed hundreds
of lives.
“But changing the law alone is not enough and to save even more
people's lives, it is really important that we all register our
organ donation decision – whether they are opting in or out.
“You can do this either via the NHS Wales App or online and it
also helps to speak to our loved ones about our decision.
“This gives families certainty about your decision and helps our
clinicians save more lives.
“Thank you very much everyone who has already registered their
decision. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all
the wonderful people who have donated organs to help others.”
Peter Sturgess became involved in organ donation
following the death of his wife, Ronnie, at the Grange University
Hospital. Peter supported Ronnie's decision to donate her organs
via deemed consent.
He said: “Knowing Ronnie's organs have given others the chance to
improve their lives is a great source of comfort.
“Her liver and two kidneys now reside in three men aged over 60,
so, for me, there is still a little piece of her out there.”
Anthony Clarkson, director of organ donation and
transplant at NHS Blood and Transplant, said:
“Deemed consent is now the system for the whole of the UK and has
provided additional organs for transplant each year.
“However, the legislation is not the silver bullet to closing the
gap between donation and transplantation – it is an important
piece of the jigsaw to improving organ donation, transplant, and
consent rates.
“I would urge everyone in Wales who supports organ
donation to register their decision and make it clear
that it's what you want should the worst happen.
“It only takes two minutes to register, but it could save the
lives of people who so desperately need a transplant.”
People can register their organ donation decision via the NHS
Wales App or at www.organdonation.nhs.uk
Notes to editors
- Wales introduced deemed consent on 1 December 2015 through
the Human Transplantation (Wales) Act 2013
- Deemed consent means consent is presumed unless someone has
opted out or is excluded based on age, residency or mental
capacity
- Around 44% of the population in Wales have registered their
decision to opt in to organ donation
- Those who have opted in have around a 90% consent rate,
compared to 50-60% under deemed consent
- The transplant waiting list is managed at UK level based on
clinical need
- There have been more than 1700 transplanted organs in Wales,
550 of which were transplanted under deemed consent
- Even under the deemed consent law, the family are
involved in conversations about organ donation so it's
important people who want to donate their organs discuss it with their
family, so their decisions are clear. Families are far
more likely to support organ donation if they know it's what
their loved one wanted.
