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BHF - Opt out law would help lessen UK organ donor disparity
An analysis of the number and type of organ donations in the UK has revealed significant variations across the four nations.
Over time, Wales has consistently outperformed the rest of the UK both in terms of the percentage of people on the organ donor register and donation rates, which have been higher than the UK average for most of the last 20 years.
England only managed a higher than average organ donation rate in three of the last 20 years. The research also showed Northern Ireland outperformed England and Scotland.
Betty McBride, BHF's Director of Policy and Communications, said: “For now a heart transplant is the only effective treatment available for end stage heart failure patients but, worryingly, the rate of heart donations has slumped over the past two decades in Wales, Scotland and England.
The rate of heart donations has slumped over the past two decades
“The reality is that nine out of 10 of us want to donate but just 25 per cent join the donor register. There is clearly a yawning gap between good intention and action and that needs to be filled, not with more research, but with active politics like they have in Wales. We need opt out legislation across the UK, supported by proper infrastructure and training for doctors.
“Whilst Wales may appear to be doing well relative to the rest of the UK, its donation rates still don’t make great reading. Recognising more needs to be done, the country’s politicians are hopefully close to agreeing to opt out laws which would undoubtedly prove to be the difference between life and death for so many families.”
The research was published in the British Medical Journal.
