Ministers hint at reform to organ donor laws in England as Yorkshire MP continues campaign

Responding to a question from the Barnsley MP Dan Jarvis, the First Secretary of State, Damian Green, said the Department of Health is looking at similar reforms in Scotland and Wales “to see if those can give rise” to improvements.

Last year was a record year for transplants, with doctors carrying out more surgeries than ever before. However, There are currently around 6,500 people remain on the UK Transplant Waiting List, and 500 patients died last year while waiting for an organ.

Under existing rules, it is up to individuals in England to take the active step of registering as an organ donor. However, in Wales there is a system of “deemed consent” which requires someone to opt out if they do not want to donate their organs.

Scotland is planning to introduce a similar system, and Mr Jarvis is among those campaigning for England to follow suit.

Raising the case of nine-year-old Max Johnson – who is on the waiting list for a new heart – the Labour MP asked Mr Green whether he agreed that “we should change the law to one of presumed consent for organ donation, to give Max and all those other people the best chance of life?”

The First Secretary replied that “more can be done” to boost transplants, adding: “The law is different in other territories inside the UK, and the Department of Health is looking at the impact of those changes to see if those can give rise to further improvements in the number of available organs.”

Mr Jarvis is due to hold a Westminster Hall debate on changing the rules tomorrow. Responding to the Minister’s comments, he said: “Since the introduction of an opt-out system in Wales, the pool of potential organ donors has almost trebled. It makes sense to do the same in England.

“We can do more to help those in need of organ transplants, because 457 people dying a year is too many.

“There are millions of people in England who would be willing to donate their organs, but don’t. We all lead busy lives and organ donation is not something most people think about on a day-to-day basis.

“I think introducing an opt-out system is a sensible measure that would save countless lives every year.”