Health Secretary has asked people to
overcome their reluctance to talk about organ donation with
relatives, as he launches a public
consultation on a new opt-out system.
Figures from NHS Blood and Transplant show that in the past
year around 1,100 families in the UK decided not to allow
organ donation because they did not know whether their
relatives would have wanted it.
In October, the Prime Minister announced a change to an
‘opt-out’ system, that would shift the balance of
presumption in favour of organ donation.
At present, 80% of people say they would be willing to
donate their organs, but only 36% register to become an
organ donor.
It is hoped that changing the system to an opt-out model of
consent will mean more viable organs become available for
use on the NHS, potentially saving thousands of lives.
Over the next 3 months, the government is asking for
comments on the defining questions of the new system:
- How much say should families have in their deceased
relative’s decision to donate their organs?
- When would exemptions to ‘opt-out’ be needed, and what
safeguards will be necessary?
- How might a new system affect certain groups depending
on age, disability, race or faith?
Health Secretary said:
Every day, 3 people die for want of a transplant, which
is why our historic plans to transform the way organ
donation works are so important. We want as many people
as possible to have their say as we shape the new opt-out
process.
But as well as changing the law, we also need to change
the conversation. It can be a difficult subject to
broach, but overcoming this fatal reluctance to talk
openly about our wishes is key to saving many more lives
in the future.
Only about half of adults on the current organ register say
they have discussed their wishes with a relative.
Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive of the British Heart
Foundation, said:
The government’s commitment to an opt-out system is a
commitment to ending the pain felt by families who risk
losing a loved one while they wait for an organ. There is
a desperate shortage of organ donors in the UK, but
around 8 in 10 of us say we do want to donate our organs.
Introducing an opt-out system in England will mean more
people get the life-saving heart transplant they need. In
the meantime, it’s still important for all of us to have
conversations with our loved ones about organ donation so
our wishes can be met if the worst should happen.
Fiona Loud, Director of Policy at Kidney Care UK, said:
With 8 out of 10 people on the transplant list hoping for
a kidney and at least one person dying every day while
waiting, this consultation is a unique chance to change
this. Whatever your views are on organ donation, please
share them.
It’s a good time to make sure your loved ones know how
you feel too because currently we have one of the lowest
rates of consent to donation in Europe.
