Member News
21st October 2011
The UK is at the bottom of the European league in terms of organ transplants, but developments in Wales could drive forward improvements, a trustee of the Kidney Wales Foundation has said.
Speaking at a meeting of the all-party parliamentary group on heart disease, Kidney Wales' Roy Thomas, a former lawyer, touted Wales' track record ahead of the rest of the UK.
Three people a day die in the UK as a result of waiting for organ transplants, as opposed to one person a week in Wales.
Kidney Wales Foundation is arguing for a system of 'soft opt-out' to be introduced across the UK. It currently exists in Wales.
Under this system, individuals are presumed to have given consent unless they have explicitly opted out.
Belgium introduced the scheme in 1986 and a mere two per cent of people opted out.
Such pressure has worked in the past. In the 1980s, after Margaret Thatcher was successfully lobbied, people began receiving forms for organ donation along with their driving licence forms. This practice is now common across the world. In 2009, a British survey revealed that 71 per cent of people wanted an 'opt out' system.
Thomas stressed the desire of Kidney Wales Foundation not to charge for organs, stating his opposition to 'transplant tourism'. While he said he could understand and sympathise with those who have sought organs in this way, he made clear he does not want to see the establishment of such arrangements within the UK.
Answering a question from the audience, Thomas said that transplant co-ordinators are improving, but they need to be resourced better.
Transplant co-ordinators are professionals, who organise the transplant process, including matching donors with recipients.
To reduce the emotional burden placed upon them, he suggested that the UK follow Spain's lead where transplant co-ordinators undertake their role alongside other duties.
A representative from NHS Blood & Transplant, in the audience, disagreed, saying that many nurses found it very rewarding and that specialism was important.
The event concluded with a mother telling the story of her son's quest for, and success in receiving, a heart transplant.
Article Comments
Kidney Wales is absolutely correct in saying that a 'soft' opt-out scheme is the way to go across the UK.
I would go further and say that an assumtion or organ donation should made for Heart, Lungs, Liver and Kidneys.
Most importantly we have to stop the need to continue to ask relatives, despite the deceased person holding a donor card.
Terence S Rickards
24th Oct 2011 at 8:14 pm
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.