MP for Totnes Anthony Mangnall held a Westminster Hall debate earlier this week to discuss the Organ Donation and Transplantation Strategy.
Mr Mangnall used the debate to congratulate the Government on the steps they have taken thus far, most notably with the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act 2019, to encourage further education and awareness around organ donation and to explore future steps that the Government can take. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Maria Caulfield MP, responded to Mr Mangnall’s speech and took the opportunity to thank all those donors and their families who have to make incredibly tough decisions, pointing out that every donor can save around nine lives.
In May 2020, the law around organ donation in England was changed to mean that an individual is deemed to agree to become an organ donor when they die if they are over 18, have not opted out and are not in an excluded group. This change in legislation dramatically increased the number of available organ donors, while only a small percentage of the population has chosen to opt out.
People are also encouraged to sign up to the Organ Donor Register, with 38% of the population having already done so. Initiatives are already in place to increase registration, including through the DVLA, the NHS app or when applying for a Boots Advantage Card. Mr Mangnall asked the Government to consider extending this scheme to ensure as many avenues as possible are open.
However, family members and loved ones can choose not to allow organ donation to take place after a patient’s death, even if the potential donor had actively joined the Organ Donor Register. Consent rates for deceased donations are currently at 68% in England and 78.8% in the south-west. Of the 695 donations that didn’t go ahead in 2020/2021 due to lack of consent, 10.2% were refused as family members were unsure of whether the patient would have wanted to donate. This clearly shows the continued need to for an educational campaign encouraging people to talk to their families and loved ones about organ donation and their organ donation decisions. The Government has stated their ambition to increase consent levels to 80%, an increase which is likely to result in approximately 700 more transplants per year.
As of 13 February 2022, there were 6,157 people waiting for an organ transplant in the UK. Between April 2020 and March 2021, there were a total of 1,180 deceased donors and 444 living donors in the UK, which resulted in 3,391 lives being either saved or dramatically improved by an organ transplant. However, 474 people sadly died while on the active waiting list and a further 693 were removed, primarily because of deteriorating health.
Lack of infrastructure can be a barrier to transplantation, and although the south-west can boast a high consent rate, the region is at a disadvantage when it comes to transplant units. Mr Mangnall MP asked the Minister to reassure him that a new national programme to expand the number of liver transplant centres will be rolled out at pace, therefore improving access to transplant facilities in the region.
Jim Shannon MP (Strangford) and Dan Jarvis MP (Barnsley Central) also spoke of the importance of a good working relationship between all regions in the UK, as well as the need for public education and additional capacity within the NHS.
The Minister, Maria Caulfield MP, was very receptive to ideas and confirmed she would look into the factors affecting the success of organ donation including logistical and geographical issues, as well as seeing what lessons can be learnt from other countries. The Minister also agreed it is essential that the process for joining the Organ Donor Register is as easy as possible, and will take on board suggestions to facilitate this whether that be through the electoral roll or other mechanisms.
Speaking after the debate, Anthony Mangnall MP said:
“I called for the debate following many discussions with the Meredith family, who are passionate organ donation campaigners. Their personal experience has lent great weight to help raise awareness and improve the UK’s organ donation and transplantation strategy. I have learnt a great deal about organ donation and transplantation through my meetings with the Merediths, including some of the problems they have identified including regional disparity when it comes to healthcare services.
The organ donation and transplantation service provided by NHS Blood and Transplant is outstanding but there is still more we can do to encourage more people to donate their organs and to improve outcomes for those on the transplant list. I hope the Minister takes on board the suggestions raised during theis debate and that positive changes are made to improve the system for people who are on the transplant waiting list.”