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Giving the gift of life

Radical changes to the organ donor system have been proposed in a bid to increase the number of organs available for transplant.

Currently, donors have to join the NHS Organ Donor Register before their organs can be used for transplantation after their death.

There are now nearly 15 million people on the Organ Donor Register but there are still more than 8,000 people waiting for a transplant, a figure that rises by eight per cent every year*.

Much debate has centred around the policy of ‘presumed consent’, which means that everyone would automatically be a potential donor and would have to opt out of donating their organs instead.

The opt-out system would result in thousands more transplants being carried out each year. However, the plans have sparked controversy with many people saying that it is not up to the state to decide what happens to a person’s body after death.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson has offered his support to 14 recommendations to reform the organ donor system. These proposals include hiring twice as many transplant co-ordinators and setting up 24-hour transplant teams, as well as considering a ‘presumed consent’ system.

According to a report by Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer for the NHS, 70 per cent of people want to donate their organs after death but only 20 per cent are registered organ donors.

The 31st Westfield Health British Transplant Games, which are to be held in Sheffield in August, will aim to promote awareness of the need for more people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Up to 1,000 recipients of a life-saving organ transplant, aged between two and 82, are expected to take part in the Games, one of the biggest annual multi-sports events in the UK.

Westfield Health Chairman Graham Moore said: "The Games are inspirational and a great way to raise awareness of organ donation. I have carried a donor card myself for many years and would encourage everyone to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register and be a hero by giving the gift of life."

If you would like to find out more about the NHS Organ Donor Register, call 0845 60 60 400 or visit www.mylifemygift.co.uk

References
* UK transplant website statistics

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