NHS to drop organ donor family consent

♦ Objections from relatives are stopping more than 100 organ donations from taking place each year.

Figures from NHS Blood and Transplant Service (NHSBT) show that 505 families blocked donations from taking place in the past five years – despite the deceased being a registered donor. BBC Radio 5 Live found that almost a third of families who blocked organ donation said it was because the process took “too long”.

Laws suggest that organ donation consent is given by the deceased but the wishes of relatives are respected. In 2016-17, the NHS recorded 1,413 deceased organ donors. Families blocked the donations of 91 people on the register – around six per cent.

In response to the data obtained by the BBC, the NHSBT said it would stop seeking a family’s formal consent, to reduce the number of “overrides”.

Earlier this month, Theresa May announced a consultation on whether people should be automatically entered on to the donor register unless they chose to opt out.