Published: Wednesday, 26th March, 2008 12:00pm

Government is 'committed' to increasing organ donors

by Hamish Hutchinson

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CLACKMANNANSHIRE MP Gordon Banks has received assurance from the Health Minister that the Government is committed to increasing the number of organs available for transplant operations.

Mr Banks, together with the Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser, has been campaigning for more people to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register and to change to a system where people have to "opt-out" rather than "opt-in" to agree to become organ donors.

He has already tabled an Early Day Motion on the issue and is receiving support from his fellow MPs, with 52 signatures so far.

And last week, he raised the campaign in a debate in the House of Commons, and was encouraged by the support of members, particularly Health Minister Dawn Primarolo.

She told the Commons, 'The government is absolutely committed to increasing the number of organs available for transplantation so that many more people can benefit from that life-saving procedure and release the potential of the individuals who have had that potential thwarted because of the limitations caused by being able to secure a transplant.'

Shortage

During the debate, Mr Banks highlighted the chronic shortage of organ donors - around 8000 individuals in the UK need a transplant but only 3000 operations per year are carried out due to the lack of organs. Around 400 people a year die waiting for a transplant.

He told his fellow MPs, 'I believe the current system is too restrictive as it does not meet the increasing demands placed on it.

'Bodies are buried or cremated complete with organs that could have been used to save lives, not necessarily because the deceased objected to donation, but simply because they never got round to signing up to the organ donor register or informing their relatives of their wishes.'

Mr Banks highlighted the case of 23-year-old Sarah Murray, from Sauchie, who is waiting on a double lung transplant after suffering from cystic fibrosis all her life.

And he spoke of toddler Muireann McLaughlin, who tragically died after becoming tangled in a loop cord in her Menstrie home.

He said, 'Muireann"s parents, at a time of tremendous grief, decided to help give the gift of life to another when two of Muireann"s heart valves were donated.'

Following the debate, Mr Banks told the Advertiser that he was glad the Government was making moves to tackle the shortage of organ donors - highlighting the work of the organ donation task force and the prospect of a second organ donation report in the summer - but added that he believed we need to move to an opt-out system as soon as possible.