‘Highest organ donor consent rate in UK’
WALES now has the highest consent rate of organ donation in the UK, nearly fours years on from the pioneering “soft opt-out” system being introduced.
Latest figures from NHS Blood and Transplant show the consent rate for organ donation in Wales has increased by 7% from last year.
It means 77% of the Welsh population are now consenting organ donors compared to 58% in 2015 when the Human Transplantation (Wales) Act first came into force.
On December 1, 2015, Wales became the first country in the UK to take the decision to move to a soft opt-out system of consent to organ donation.
It means people aged 18 and over who have lived in Wales for more than 12 months – and who die in Wales – are now regarded as having consented to organ donation unless they have opted opt. This is known as “deemed consent”.
Anyone who does not wish to donate now has to express their wishes with the organ donation register.
Figures from the NHS Blood and Transplant annual Organ Donation and Transplantation Activity Report for 2018-19 show that in Wales:
■ 40% of the population have signed up to the opt-in register and 5.9% of the population signed up to the opt-out register;
■ there were 96 deceased donors and 44 living donors from Welsh residents. That was an 18% increase in the number of
deceased donors donating compared to last year (87);
■ there were 171 transplants from deceased donors to Welsh residents;
■ there were 222 people waiting on the active transplant waiting list and 24 patients died while on the active list;
■ 15 families overruled organ donation, four overruled their loved one’s opt-in decision and 11 families did not support deemed consent.
England and Scotland are set to follow Wales’ example and introduce the same legislation next year.
Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said: “Every organ donation is potentially lifesaving gift. I am very pleased to see the consent rate continues to rise in Wales.
“It shows the introduction of the pioneering opt-out system is having a real effect and it is great to see England and Scotland now following our lead.
“None of this would have been possible without the generosity of donors and their families, who give their support. As well as the dedication of all the clinical staff involved.
“Communicating your organ donation decision to family and loved ones is crucial to ensuring we get more donors.
“If you know you want to be an organ donor, then simply tell your loved ones.
Your family will be involved in any discussions about organ donation if you are in a position to donate your organs when you die.”
The figures were released ahead of the Westfield Health British Transplant Games, which are coming to Newport July 25 to 28.
If you know you want to be an organ donor, then simply tell your loved ones VAUGHAN GETHING
■ You can register an organ donation decision at any time at any age by calling 0300 123 23 23 or visiting https://gov. wales/organ-donation/register-your-decision or by telling your family and friends.