Alloa Advertiser | Campaigns | MP steps up organ donation campaign

Published: Wednesday, 27th February, 2008 13:00

MP steps up organ donation campaign

By Kevin McRoberts

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Gordon Banks MP is urging people to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Pic by: David Robertson

LOCAL MP Gordon Banks has been stepping up his Organ Donation campaign at Westminster this week by tabling questions to the Department of Health and encouraging fellow MPs to join his fight for an ‘opt out’ system.

Mr Banks has put a series of questions to the Department of Health on a wide range of issues aimed at ensuring the UK tackles effectively the shortage of organs.

As well as Parliamentary questions he has also tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) which is designed to gauge the support of fellow MPs.

Within a couple of days, the EDM had already attracted the support of 19 MPs in the House of Commons.

Thousands of people are on waiting lists and in desperate need of organ transplants – and while many of us say we would be prepared to donate our organs, not many of us have done anything about it.

That’s why the UK Government is now looking to tackle the chronic shortage of organ donations by changing the law.

Mr Banks fully supports the plan to introduce an ‘opt out’ rather than the current ‘opt in’ system of organ donation in the UK.

But he points out that it could take 18 months to two years for the legislation to make its way through the Westminster Parliament – and that could be too late for many people who will die waiting.

He wants as many people as possible to sign up to the organ donor register now instead of simply waiting for a change in the law.

And that’s why he asked the Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser – Clackmannanshire’s best selling local newspaper – to launch a campaign encouraging more people to sign up.

Mr Banks said, “Many of us will know the pain and anguish of someone close to us who is waiting for a transplant.

“Eight thousand people are currently on the transplant waiting list, and this figure is growing every year, so it is clear that something needs to be done to alleviate the suffering of those on the list and their families.

“Too many people are dying needlessly whilst waiting on organs.”

Mr Banks’ EDM welcomes both the recommendations contained in a report from the Organ Donation Taskforce and Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s comments that the current system of consent limits the chances of transplant for those awaiting organs.

He recognises the “fine work carried out by NHS staff in difficult circumstances” and supports proposals to increase resources to organ transplant teams across the UK.

And he expresses further concern that around 1000 people die each year due to a shortage of available organs, and urges the Government to implement the recommendations of the Organ Donation Taskforce and move to an ‘opt out’ system of donation as soon as possible.

Mr Banks said, “The ‘opt out’ system already operates in several other European countries and has boosted the number of organs available for transplant.

“However an ‘opt out’ must be coupled with the recruitment of extra transplant co-ordinators to ensure that all suitable organs are in fact harvested.

“It is difficult to expect overworked intensive care staff to take on the role themselves. Transplant surgery is vital and should be given specialist attention.”

He added that he hoped to apply some pressure on the Government in order to ensure that this area was tackled appropriately and that needless suffering was ended.

“We need to be able to face the challenges that an increasing need for organs brings, and I feel that an ‘opt out’ system is the best way to achieve that,” said Mr Banks.

“They have an excellent model of Organ Donation in Spain and I will be encouraging the Health Secretary to look closely at the model to see if it can be adapted to work here in the UK.

“The current system, in my opinion, is too restrictive and I believe we have reached a point where there is public demand for change.

“I want to ensure this Government is doing all it can by supporting our already over worked transplant coordinators and that although a change in the system may be some months away it is important that we lay down some strong foundations now and think about the future.

“Lessons can be learned from other countries such as Spain and the USA and I want to ensure we are doing that.”

Mr Banks continued, “The Government has already gone some way by accepting the conclusions of the Organ Donation Taskforce and I will continue to ensure that its recommendations are followed and implemented as soon as possible.

“While these will be challenging to deliver, the rewards are significant.

“The report proposes a radical shift from existing arrangements, recommending the recruitment of around 100 extra donor transplant coordinators to work with hospitals and guide and support bereaved families through the donation process.

“Together with other measures to improve donor coordination services this could result in a 50 per cent increase in the consent rate for donation.”

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