‘Fantastic campaign has shined a light on these absolute heroes’

HEALTH minister Jackie Doyle-Price praised the campaigning journalism of the Mirror as “fantastic”.

The launch of the new donor system is a historic victory for the paper.

Ms Doyle-Price said: “I think what the Mirror has done is fantastic. It has really brought this issue to life by showing the personal stories of people involved in organ donation, these absolute heroes who have saved lives.”

We launched our battle in 2015 when Wales introduced an opt-out system.

In June 2017, the Mirror highlighted Max Johnson’s search for a new heart. We featured many other stories, launched a petition and won support from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Lib Dem chief Sir Vince Cable who both agreed to make it their party policy to change the law.

After Theresa May announced her intention to bring in an opt-out system, she launched a consultation on how England should do it. The response – around 17,000 people got in touch – was

astonishing. Ms Doyle-Price said the previous highest number of responses to a Department of Health consultation was 3,000.

The Government is backing Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson’s private members’ bill to adopt the new system. He said: “I am much encouraged by the outcome of the public consultation exercise.” The bill will now undergo detailed scrutiny. It must then clear further stages in the Commons and scrutiny in the Lords before becoming law.