Amazing result after Mirror’s 2-year fight
THE Daily Mirror’s Change the Law for Life campaign called for everyone in the UK to be assumed to have agreed to donate their organs after death unless they actively opt out.
We launched our battle in 2015, when Wales introduced an opt-out system, and quickly won support from the public, patients, MPs, health groups and the British Medical Association.
An early victory came when Scotland said it would follow Wales after our pressure. And Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson launched a Private Member’s Bill to adopt the new system across the UK after calling the case for change “overwhelming”.
The bill was to be heard in February 2018 but Mr Robinson said last night he will now consult Jeremy Hunt on bringing in the change after Theresa May said the Government would move to an opt-out system.
We also highlighted the story of Max Johnson, who urged the Prime Minister to change the system as part of our campaign. Over the two years, the Mirror and our website Mirror Online ran hundreds of news stories, features and probes. Our petition hit 10,000 and we were backed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and the Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable.
Last month, we revealed 457 Brits could have been saved last year by changing the system. Mrs May referred to our agenda-setting story when she announced her new organ donation policy yesterday.
Patients last night said they were thrilled by our victory. Michael Tolcher, 27, of Liverpool, said: “I was born with chronic renal failure and following a failed transplant I have been on dialysis since March 2015. Opt-out donation means everything to me because I would like to start a family but being on dialysis and working full-time can be a lot to handle.”
Sofia Field, nine, from Cornwall, had been waiting for a kidney transplant on and off for three years before she finally got her op last Friday. Mum Abi, 31, said of the PM’s announcement: “It’s emotional because it’s something you’ve fought for for ages and finally they’re taking notice and doing it.
“I think it will make a massive difference, I think it will cut the waiting time for people like us. It’s huge.”
William Withers, 44, of Shropshire, has been on the transplant list for almost 16 years. He said: “I think it might help with some of the difficulties professionals face in that situation when they have to ask.”
And Shashi Patel, 37, of Wolverhampton, who has been waiting for a new kidney for more than 20 years, said: “It’s about time. If it brings down the number of people on the list that’s a good thing. Waiting is starting to bug me and one of the reasons is there just aren’t enough donors.” H A N G O R L