A long process to change the law to an opt-out system of organ donation is not the fast and effective solution patients need, says the British Liver Trust, responding to the recommendations of a Government-commissioned taskforce.
Instead, the Trust calls for urgent action to support the NHS and improve donation rates that carry the consent of patients and their families. Earlier this year, the Organ Donation Taskforce proposed a package of measures which they believe could improve the number of organs available by 50% within five years. These include appointing a donation champion in every hospital, more transplant co-ordinators and making hospitals report a league table of donation rates.
Imogen Shillito, Director of Information at the British Liver Trust, said: “The debates about presumed consent are a red herring. The Government has recently proposed solutions to the serious shortage of organs that are costing hundreds of patients their lives. The focus must be on supporting the NHS to implement these measures and improve donation rates from consenting donors. Patients need practical measures rather than protracted debates.”
The shortage of donors and complexity of the operation means that for every one person given a second chance at life with a transplant, 10 die from liver disease. Over 100 people die every year waiting for a liver transplant. In contrast to kidney disease, there is no dialysis for people with liver disease. Tragically, some patients on the waiting list become too ill to survive the operation. If more organs were available, clinicians would be able to offer the benefits of a new organ to many more patients who at the moment do not even reach the waiting list..”
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For further information please contact:
Imogen Shillito or Sonia Aarons
Phone: 01425 481 320
Out of hours: 07939 960 420
Email: Imogen.shillito@britishlivertrust.org.uk
Web: www.britishlivertrust.org.uk
British Liver Trust,
2 Southampton Road,
Ringwood, BH24 1HY
Editor’s Note:
1. The British Liver Trust is Britain’s only national liver disease charity for adults. We work to improve the lives of people suffering from liver disease with key roles in education, support and research.
2. Liver disease is one of the UK’s five ‘big killers’ and the only one on the rise. The Trust is working urgently to encourage prevention and investment in treatment and care for people with liver disease. Much of the increasing incidence of liver disease stems from lifestyle trends – relating to alcohol, obesity and viral hepatitis. However, liver disease has many other causes including genetics, abnormalities in the immune system and even the medicines we take. The Trust is working to raise awareness about the liver and combat the stigma associated with liver disease.
3. The British Liver Trust supports the Taskforce’s recommendations (which are available via this link http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Secondarycare/Transplant...) including:
- Recruitment of more specialist transplant co-ordinators and work to ensure they are supporting all NHS Trusts.
- Work to make organ donation a usual, not an unusual event, and a routine discussion as part of end-of-life care with health professionals. Each NHS Trust to have a clinical donation champion and structures to support this.
- Creation of a UK-wide Donation Ethics Group to examine and advise professionals on the legal, ethical and professional issues around transplants and to support clear and objective decision-making within an ethical framework.
- Donation activity in each Trust should be monitored and reported to the healthcare regulators. A donation champion should be appointed in every Trust.
- Creation of a UK-wide Organ Donation Organisation to ensure that all NHS organisations and health professionals are working to support organ supply across the UK.
In addition, we support campaigns to encourage people to join the Organ Donor Register and discuss this step with their families. This register now has legal force as consent in England.
4. The Trust provides a comprehensive website www.britishlivertrust.org.uk, free medical helpline – 0800 652 7330, and distributes a wide range of information leaflets to individuals and healthcare professionals. In addition, the Trust is a contact point for support groups nationwide, as well as co-ordinating funding and providing support for research.
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