http://www.nerysevans.org/am-welcomes-presumed-consent-consultation
Plaid AM Nerys Evans this week welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Health and Social Services, Edwina Hart, to launch a 12 week public consultation to find out if a change is needed to the current organ donation consent system. This consultation period will find out if the Welsh Government should move forward and propose a legislative change to the current system. Currently you have to register if you are willing to be an organ donor.
Plaid AM Nerys Evans said:
“I very much welcome this announcement by the Health Minister and it is something I have been campaigning on since my election. There is currently a dire shortage of organs available for transplants; this really is a matter of life and death – in the last year alone 22 people died while waiting for a transplant. When questioned, 90% of people say that they agree with the principle of organ donation, but unfortunately only 27% of people in Wales actually get round to signing up to the organ donor register. With a new opt out system in place many more lives would be saved and I now look forward to hearing the results of the consultation so that we can move forward with this issue.”
Saturday, 23 May 2009
Wednesday, 13 May 2009
Organ donation change?
May 12 2009 by Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail
WALES has taken another step towards becoming the first UK nation to change the law on organ donation.
Health Minister Edwina Hart yesterday launched a consultation on proposals to introduce an opt-out system in Wales.
Under such a system, which is in use in Belgium and Spain, people who do not want to be considered as organ donors would have to register their decision to opt out.
But relatives would still be consulted about, and have the right to veto, organ donation.
The organ donation system currently relies on people registering as potential donors during their lifetime.
Opt-out systems have been credited with increasing the number of organs which are available for transplant.
There are currently more than 500 patients in Wales waiting for an organ transplant. The majority are waiting for a kidney.
Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh Secretary of the British Medical Association, said: “There is little doubt that such a system would produce a far higher potential donor rate than at present, which is far too low at 22%.
“Experience of other European countries that have already introduced an opt-out scheme have proven this to be the case.
“In previous public opinion surveys, the vast majority of people say they would be willing to donate their organs. Unfortunately, this does not translate into people who actually sign the register.
“This is where the crux of the problem lies. People want to be donors but, for whatever reason, they just do not get round to signing the register.
“Of course, that would not be an issue with an opt-out system, and that is how a change to legislation could make all the difference to anyone left waiting on the organ donor register.”
The 12-week consultation, which ends on August 3, will ask whether Wales should change the law on organ donation and follows a major public debate between October and January.
In a letter launching the formal consultation Mrs Hart said: “It is clear that there is significant support for increasing organ donation rates and a wide range of suggestions were put forward on how this might be achieved, including possible changes to the consent system.
“The public debate confirmed that there is an appetite for change to the organ donation consent system with the feedback suggesting a preference for a soft opt-out system.
“The aim of this further consultation exercise is to find out if the Assembly Government should now move forward and propose legislative change.”
Mrs Hart has also commissioned officials to advise the Assembly Government about what legislative options are available to Wales if it decides to go down this route.
Roy J Thomas, chairman of the Kidney Wales Foundation, said: “This is an important step forward for those waiting for a transplant and sends a genuine message of hope.
“It is important that members of the public are given the chance to express their views on this issue and engage in the debate, which is why we welcome this latest step by the Health Minister.
“Through the introduction of an opt-out system of organ donation and more donor co-ordinators many more lives can be saved in Wales.”
Andrew RT Davies, the Welsh Conservatives’ Shadow Health Minister, added: “We welcome any moves that can lead to an increase in the number of people on the organ donor register.
“With one person dying every 11 days in Wales waiting for a transplant, it’s clear more needs to be done to increase the numbers of donors. However the Assembly Government must ensure that any moves to increase the number of organ donors are coupled with moves to add to the number of donor co-ordinators in Welsh hospitals.
“There is no point increasing the number of organs available for transplant if the Welsh health system cannot cope.”
WALES has taken another step towards becoming the first UK nation to change the law on organ donation.
Health Minister Edwina Hart yesterday launched a consultation on proposals to introduce an opt-out system in Wales.
Under such a system, which is in use in Belgium and Spain, people who do not want to be considered as organ donors would have to register their decision to opt out.
But relatives would still be consulted about, and have the right to veto, organ donation.
The organ donation system currently relies on people registering as potential donors during their lifetime.
Opt-out systems have been credited with increasing the number of organs which are available for transplant.
There are currently more than 500 patients in Wales waiting for an organ transplant. The majority are waiting for a kidney.
Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh Secretary of the British Medical Association, said: “There is little doubt that such a system would produce a far higher potential donor rate than at present, which is far too low at 22%.
“Experience of other European countries that have already introduced an opt-out scheme have proven this to be the case.
“In previous public opinion surveys, the vast majority of people say they would be willing to donate their organs. Unfortunately, this does not translate into people who actually sign the register.
“This is where the crux of the problem lies. People want to be donors but, for whatever reason, they just do not get round to signing the register.
“Of course, that would not be an issue with an opt-out system, and that is how a change to legislation could make all the difference to anyone left waiting on the organ donor register.”
The 12-week consultation, which ends on August 3, will ask whether Wales should change the law on organ donation and follows a major public debate between October and January.
In a letter launching the formal consultation Mrs Hart said: “It is clear that there is significant support for increasing organ donation rates and a wide range of suggestions were put forward on how this might be achieved, including possible changes to the consent system.
“The public debate confirmed that there is an appetite for change to the organ donation consent system with the feedback suggesting a preference for a soft opt-out system.
“The aim of this further consultation exercise is to find out if the Assembly Government should now move forward and propose legislative change.”
Mrs Hart has also commissioned officials to advise the Assembly Government about what legislative options are available to Wales if it decides to go down this route.
Roy J Thomas, chairman of the Kidney Wales Foundation, said: “This is an important step forward for those waiting for a transplant and sends a genuine message of hope.
“It is important that members of the public are given the chance to express their views on this issue and engage in the debate, which is why we welcome this latest step by the Health Minister.
“Through the introduction of an opt-out system of organ donation and more donor co-ordinators many more lives can be saved in Wales.”
Andrew RT Davies, the Welsh Conservatives’ Shadow Health Minister, added: “We welcome any moves that can lead to an increase in the number of people on the organ donor register.
“With one person dying every 11 days in Wales waiting for a transplant, it’s clear more needs to be done to increase the numbers of donors. However the Assembly Government must ensure that any moves to increase the number of organ donors are coupled with moves to add to the number of donor co-ordinators in Welsh hospitals.
“There is no point increasing the number of organs available for transplant if the Welsh health system cannot cope.”
Wales urged to follow Belgium on organ donation
May 11 2009 by Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to increase the number of organ donors have urged Wales to follow Belgium’s lead.
The Kidney Wales Foundation believes Belgium’s decision to introduce an opt-out organ donation scheme shows how changing the law can increase the number of donors.
And it has said Wales should heed the Belgian example.
The calls come as the Welsh Assembly Government prepares to publish a range of options for organ donation in Wales.
It is thought that one of these will be the introduction of an opt-out system.
Wales, like the rest of the UK, currently has an opt-in organ donation system – people who want to donate their organs after their death must sign up to the Organ Donor Register.
But there is growing support for a “soft” opt-out system – also known as “presumed consent”.
Under this system people who do not want to donate their organs would have to register but relatives would still be consulted at the time of death.
Roy J Thomas, chair of the Kidney Wales Foundation, said, on the eve of the first anniversary of the Donate Wales campaign: “The brutal reality is that people in Wales waiting for a transplant are dying because of the shortage of donors – statistically, it’s one person every 11 days.
“We stand at a crossroads where the urgency for change has never been greater.
“Kidney Wales has looked carefully at the way in which other countries in Europe have benefited from the introduction of an opt-out system.
“In the 23 years since this system of organ donation was adopted in Belgium, for example, many more hundreds of lives have been saved in comparison to Wales.
“A responsible and factual debate on this health issue is needed.
“A change to an opt-out system of organ donation, coupled with the introduction of more donor co-ordinators in Welsh hospitals, would lead to hundreds more lives in Wales being saved by the gift of organ donation.”
Belgium introduced its “soft” opt-out system in 1986 and increased the number of transplant co-ordinators at the same time.
Just 2% of the population has opted out of organ donation – by registering at their local town hall – and the national rate of organ donation rose by 55% within five years.
The latest figures show that in Belgium there were 291 deceased organ donors in 2007 compared to only 51 in Wales – Belgium has one of the highest rates of donors per million people in the world.
There were 488 kidney transplants carried out in Belgium in 2007 from deceased organ donors. During 2007-08 in Wales there were only 84 kidney transplants using cadaveric organs.
Sara Griffiths, 46, who has had a kidney and a pancreatic transplant and lives in Raglan, Monmouthshire, said: “Being on the waiting list for a transplant is gruelling – you’re alive but you’re not living.
“People on the waiting list need hope, they need to know that something proactive is being done to lessen their burden.
“To hear that an opt-out system is being considered would give people on dialysis something to hope for because with more organs available there is a better chance for a life.”
An Assembly Government spokesman said: “Health Minister Edwina Hart is committed to increasing organ donation in Wales and has taken action to achieve this.
“She has worked closely with Kidney Wales Foundation and funded the Donate Wales: Tell a Loved One campaign which aims to encourage people to sign up to the organ donation register and, importantly, to explain their wishes to relatives.
“In addition, a series of public debates were held across Wales to gauge people’s views on organ donation and the issue of presumed consent.”
A summary report of the responses to the debates is due to be published today, along with a consultation document which sets out some specific options for changes to the organ donation system in Wales.
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to increase the number of organ donors have urged Wales to follow Belgium’s lead.
The Kidney Wales Foundation believes Belgium’s decision to introduce an opt-out organ donation scheme shows how changing the law can increase the number of donors.
And it has said Wales should heed the Belgian example.
The calls come as the Welsh Assembly Government prepares to publish a range of options for organ donation in Wales.
It is thought that one of these will be the introduction of an opt-out system.
Wales, like the rest of the UK, currently has an opt-in organ donation system – people who want to donate their organs after their death must sign up to the Organ Donor Register.
But there is growing support for a “soft” opt-out system – also known as “presumed consent”.
Under this system people who do not want to donate their organs would have to register but relatives would still be consulted at the time of death.
Roy J Thomas, chair of the Kidney Wales Foundation, said, on the eve of the first anniversary of the Donate Wales campaign: “The brutal reality is that people in Wales waiting for a transplant are dying because of the shortage of donors – statistically, it’s one person every 11 days.
“We stand at a crossroads where the urgency for change has never been greater.
“Kidney Wales has looked carefully at the way in which other countries in Europe have benefited from the introduction of an opt-out system.
“In the 23 years since this system of organ donation was adopted in Belgium, for example, many more hundreds of lives have been saved in comparison to Wales.
“A responsible and factual debate on this health issue is needed.
“A change to an opt-out system of organ donation, coupled with the introduction of more donor co-ordinators in Welsh hospitals, would lead to hundreds more lives in Wales being saved by the gift of organ donation.”
Belgium introduced its “soft” opt-out system in 1986 and increased the number of transplant co-ordinators at the same time.
Just 2% of the population has opted out of organ donation – by registering at their local town hall – and the national rate of organ donation rose by 55% within five years.
The latest figures show that in Belgium there were 291 deceased organ donors in 2007 compared to only 51 in Wales – Belgium has one of the highest rates of donors per million people in the world.
There were 488 kidney transplants carried out in Belgium in 2007 from deceased organ donors. During 2007-08 in Wales there were only 84 kidney transplants using cadaveric organs.
Sara Griffiths, 46, who has had a kidney and a pancreatic transplant and lives in Raglan, Monmouthshire, said: “Being on the waiting list for a transplant is gruelling – you’re alive but you’re not living.
“People on the waiting list need hope, they need to know that something proactive is being done to lessen their burden.
“To hear that an opt-out system is being considered would give people on dialysis something to hope for because with more organs available there is a better chance for a life.”
An Assembly Government spokesman said: “Health Minister Edwina Hart is committed to increasing organ donation in Wales and has taken action to achieve this.
“She has worked closely with Kidney Wales Foundation and funded the Donate Wales: Tell a Loved One campaign which aims to encourage people to sign up to the organ donation register and, importantly, to explain their wishes to relatives.
“In addition, a series of public debates were held across Wales to gauge people’s views on organ donation and the issue of presumed consent.”
A summary report of the responses to the debates is due to be published today, along with a consultation document which sets out some specific options for changes to the organ donation system in Wales.
Opt-out on cards for organ donation in Wales
Opt-out on cards for organ donation in Wales
May 11 2009 Madeleine Brindley, WalesOnline
WALES will today take another step closer to becoming the first country in the UK to change the law on organ donation.
Health Minister Edwina Hart has launched a consultation on proposals to introduce an opt-out system in Wales.
Under such a system, which is in use in Belgium and Spain, people who do not want to be considered as organ donors would have to register their decision to opt out.
But relatives would still be consulted about organ donation at the time of death.
The organ donation system currently relies on people registering as potential donors during their lifetime.
Opt-out systems have been credited with increasing the number of organs which are available for transplant.
There are currently more than 500 patients in Wales waiting for an organ transplant. The majority are waiting for a kidney.
The 12-week consultation, which ends on August 3, will ask whether Wales should change the law on organ donation and follows a major public debate between October and January.
In a letter launching the formal consultation Mrs Hart said: “The public debate confirmed that there is an appetite for change to the organ donation consent system with the feedback suggesting a preference for a soft opt-out system.
“The aim of this further consultation exercise is to find out if the Assembly Government should now move forward and propose legislative change.”
Mrs Hart has also commissioned officials to advise the Assembly Government about what legislative options are available to Wales if it decides to go down this route.
May 11 2009 Madeleine Brindley, WalesOnline
WALES will today take another step closer to becoming the first country in the UK to change the law on organ donation.
Health Minister Edwina Hart has launched a consultation on proposals to introduce an opt-out system in Wales.
Under such a system, which is in use in Belgium and Spain, people who do not want to be considered as organ donors would have to register their decision to opt out.
But relatives would still be consulted about organ donation at the time of death.
The organ donation system currently relies on people registering as potential donors during their lifetime.
Opt-out systems have been credited with increasing the number of organs which are available for transplant.
There are currently more than 500 patients in Wales waiting for an organ transplant. The majority are waiting for a kidney.
The 12-week consultation, which ends on August 3, will ask whether Wales should change the law on organ donation and follows a major public debate between October and January.
In a letter launching the formal consultation Mrs Hart said: “The public debate confirmed that there is an appetite for change to the organ donation consent system with the feedback suggesting a preference for a soft opt-out system.
“The aim of this further consultation exercise is to find out if the Assembly Government should now move forward and propose legislative change.”
Mrs Hart has also commissioned officials to advise the Assembly Government about what legislative options are available to Wales if it decides to go down this route.
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