Holyrood spotlight on need for kidney donors

A total of 265 Scots have died while on the waiting list for a new kidney over the last decade, figures have revealed.

Statistics going back to 2009 showed between 22 and 32 deaths a year among those waiting for a kidney transplant, with 25 people dying while on the waiting list last year.

Public Health Minister Joe Fitzpatrick revealed the figures after MSPs at Holyrood approved in prinicipal legislation which will see Scotland move to a “soft opt-out” system for organ donation.

In Tayside and Fife, 50 people are waiting for a kidney transplant, NHS Scotland figures show.

Under the proposed changes it will be assumed that people consent to their organs being used after their death unless they have specifically opted out.

The Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill also contains safeguards to ensure donation will not take place where it would be clearly against the deceased person’s wishes.

There are 432 people across Scotland waiting for a kidney transplant.

Liberal Democrats, who obtained the figures using parliamentary questions, urged the Scottish Government to do more to tackle the shortage of donors, like raising awareness of living donors.

Mr FitzPatrick said Scotland had already seen “significant increases” in living kidney donors.