The Minister was speaking following the publication of the UK-wide Organ Donation Taskforce’s second report which looked at the measures required to introduce a system of opting out or presumed consent, and whether this would increase the number of organ donors.
Mr McGimpsey said: “I fully support the work of the Organ Donation Taskforce and the UK-wide work which is underway to implement the recommendations of their first report and increase donor numbers.
“While on balance, it is not felt that an opt-out system is the way forward at this time, many other initiatives are underway to increase awareness of the importance of organ donation and to raise the number of donor organs available.
“I strongly urge all Northern Ireland residents who support organ donation to register on the Organ Donor Register and to discuss their wishes with friends and relatives.”
Notes to Editors:
1. It has been recognised for some time that the UK has the lowest rates of organ donation in Europe. During 2007, approximately 327 Northern Ireland residents were waiting for an organ transplant, 69 Northern Ireland residents received a transplant and 13 died while waiting. There are currently approximately 395,000 Northern Ireland people registered on the NHS organ donor register. This equates to just below 23% of the population against a national average of 24%.
2. In late 2006, the then Minister of State for Health Services, Rosie Winterton MP, initiated an Organ Donation Task Force to explore and identify ways of improving organ donation rates across the UK and therefore the number of patients who can benefit from a life-saving transplant. A report published earlier this year by the Taskforce contains fourteen recommendations, which, when implemented, will hopefully contribute to a 50% increase in organ donation in the UK within five years – resulting in an additional 1,200 transplants a year and saving thousands of lives. Northern Ireland was involved in the development of both this report and is fully committed to its implementation.
3. Northern Ireland was also involved in the development of the Taskforce’s second report, which is issued to-day and a stakeholder event was held in Belfast in early July.
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