£12m drive to get people talking

A CAMPAIGN starts today to get families talking about organ donation ahead of the introduction of an new opt-out system next spring.

The Government has launched a £12million public awareness drive after the Mirror’s successful fight for Max and Keira’s Law.

The Pass It On campaign will run for 12 months and use posters, TV, radio and social media to get the message across that unless you opt out, you have opted in to donate your organs.

Parliamentary Under Secretary Jackie Doyle-Price said: “Far too many people in need of an organ transplant are still dying on a waiting list.

“We hope that Max and Keira’s Law will save hundreds of lives when it comes into effect next year but, until then, it’s vital people understand what the new law means for them.” The Government hopes the law change will help increase organ donation, and save up to 700 lives a year.

The law, named after Mirror boy Max Johnson, 11, and his nine-year-old heart donor Keira Ball, will mean that in England adults are presumed to have agreed to donate organs unless they opt out.

But it will still be possible for relatives to veto transplants, so it is vital people make their wishes known.

Ms Doyle-Price said: “I want to reassure everyone that choosing to give the gift of life still is, and always will remain, a personal decision. I strongly urge people to talk to their loved ones about their wishes and make CAMPAIGN Public awareness poster their decision clear.” Every day, across the UK, three people who could have benefited from a transplant die due to a lack of donor organs.

While there are 6,000 transplant patients on the waiting list, eight out of 10 people in England say they would definitely donate or would consider donating organs – but only a third have told their family their wishes.

The NHS Blood and Transplant poll found that only 37% of over-16s in England are aware that the law is changing.

Only 21% of 16 to 20-year-olds and 27% of people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds knew of the change. Among over-55s,

50% knew of the change.

The Pass It On campaign features a person balloon in the shape of a heart or other organ. As they release it, another hand takes hold of the string. Anthony Clarkson, donation director at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Organ donation is, and always will be, a precious gift. “Although the law is changing, it will still be the generosity of individual donors and their families who decide to support organ donation, which will ensure more transplants can happen and more lives can be saved. “We want everyone to know the law is changing. We want them to make their organ donation decision and to share that decision with family.” The law will not apply to under-18s, people lacking capacity to understand the law and those who have lived in England for less than a year. SUCCESS Transplant story of Max and Keira drove campaign

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