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| Organ donor system overhaul call | Organ donor system overhaul call |
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| Government advisers have recommended a radical overhaul of the UK organ donor network in a bid to double the number of organs available for transplant. | Government advisers have recommended a radical overhaul of the UK organ donor network in a bid to double the number of organs available for transplant. |
| By recruiting twice as many transplant coordinators and creating 24-hour organ retrieval teams they hope to emulate Spain's successful model. | By recruiting twice as many transplant coordinators and creating 24-hour organ retrieval teams they hope to emulate Spain's successful model. |
| A system of "presumed consent" in which everyone is a potential donor unless they opt out is also being considered. | A system of "presumed consent" in which everyone is a potential donor unless they opt out is also being considered. |
| Gordon Brown has backed the opt-out idea, which is still under discussion. | Gordon Brown has backed the opt-out idea, which is still under discussion. |
| Writing in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, the prime minister said a system of "presumed consent" - where hospitals could take organs unless a person had explicitly opted out before death or their family objects - could save thousands of lives. | Writing in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper, the prime minister said a system of "presumed consent" - where hospitals could take organs unless a person had explicitly opted out before death or their family objects - could save thousands of lives. |
| I was reborn 16 years ago after my liver transplant operation and thanks to that donor I'm alive Praise for Spanish system How Spain's system works class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4049&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| "A system of this kind seems to have the potential to close the aching gap between the potential benefits of transplant surgery in the UK and the limits imposed by our current system of consent," he wrote. | "A system of this kind seems to have the potential to close the aching gap between the potential benefits of transplant surgery in the UK and the limits imposed by our current system of consent," he wrote. |
| A government taskforce set up to examine the donor shortage and consider the issue of presumed consent will report in the summer. | A government taskforce set up to examine the donor shortage and consider the issue of presumed consent will report in the summer. |
| Mr Brown, who carries an organ donor card, said he hoped the measure could be introduced this year. | Mr Brown, who carries an organ donor card, said he hoped the measure could be introduced this year. |
| Lib Dem MP Dr Evan Harris, chair of All-Party Kidney Group and member of the BMA Medical Ethics Committee, welcomed Mr Brown's comments. | Lib Dem MP Dr Evan Harris, chair of All-Party Kidney Group and member of the BMA Medical Ethics Committee, welcomed Mr Brown's comments. |
| "Under an opt-out scheme donor's real wishes will be more often respected, more lives would be saved and grieving relatives will be spared the experience of making the wrong decision at the worst time," he said. | "Under an opt-out scheme donor's real wishes will be more often respected, more lives would be saved and grieving relatives will be spared the experience of making the wrong decision at the worst time," he said. |
| Mr Harris said too many people were "needlessly dying while waiting for organs". | Mr Harris said too many people were "needlessly dying while waiting for organs". |
| However, several patient groups, including Patient Concern, are against a system of presumed consent, arguing that it is not up to the state to decide what becomes of people's bodies when they die. | However, several patient groups, including Patient Concern, are against a system of presumed consent, arguing that it is not up to the state to decide what becomes of people's bodies when they die. |
| Dedicated teams | Dedicated teams |
| There are currently more than 8,000 people on the organ transplant list in the UK - a figure which rises by about 8% a year. | There are currently more than 8,000 people on the organ transplant list in the UK - a figure which rises by about 8% a year. |
| Currently, one person dies every day in the UK because of a lack of organs. | Currently, one person dies every day in the UK because of a lack of organs. |
| These recommendations are an essential first step to improve the systems supporting organ donation Alan Johnson, health minister | These recommendations are an essential first step to improve the systems supporting organ donation Alan Johnson, health minister |
| So far, the taskforce has made 14 recommendations on how to tackle that backlog. | So far, the taskforce has made 14 recommendations on how to tackle that backlog. |
| They include doubling the number of transplant coordinators in the NHS to 200 and employing and training them centrally rather than by individual trusts. | They include doubling the number of transplant coordinators in the NHS to 200 and employing and training them centrally rather than by individual trusts. |
| Coordinators identify possible donors, talk to bereaved families and inform the national transplant list. | Coordinators identify possible donors, talk to bereaved families and inform the national transplant list. |
| Dedicated organ retrieval teams available 24 hours a day would also be established to work closely with the critical care teams in hospital. | Dedicated organ retrieval teams available 24 hours a day would also be established to work closely with the critical care teams in hospital. |
| The proposed system is similar to that in Spain where they have three times more available organs than in the UK. | The proposed system is similar to that in Spain where they have three times more available organs than in the UK. |
| Consent | Consent |
| It is expected the measures could result in a 10% increase in the consent rate for donation which currently stands at 60%. | It is expected the measures could result in a 10% increase in the consent rate for donation which currently stands at 60%. |
| An extra 1,200 transplants could be done every year, the taskforce estimate. As well as saving lives, a better transplant system would save the NHS money, they said. | An extra 1,200 transplants could be done every year, the taskforce estimate. As well as saving lives, a better transplant system would save the NHS money, they said. |
| Four out of every 10 organs suitable from transplant are not transplanted because families don't give consent Chris Rudge, UK Transplant | Four out of every 10 organs suitable from transplant are not transplanted because families don't give consent Chris Rudge, UK Transplant |
| For someone with kidney failure dialysis costs £25,300 a year. | For someone with kidney failure dialysis costs £25,300 a year. |
| A transplant costs £45,900 initially followed by annual treatment costs of £7,100. | A transplant costs £45,900 initially followed by annual treatment costs of £7,100. |
| The predicted increase in kidney transplants could savings more than £500m over the next decade. | The predicted increase in kidney transplants could savings more than £500m over the next decade. |
| Health Secretary Alan Johnson said: "Last year around 2,400 people in the UK benefited from an organ transplant, but more than 1,000 people die every year waiting for a transplant. | Health Secretary Alan Johnson said: "Last year around 2,400 people in the UK benefited from an organ transplant, but more than 1,000 people die every year waiting for a transplant. |
| "These recommendations are an essential first step to improve the systems supporting organ donation. | "These recommendations are an essential first step to improve the systems supporting organ donation. |
| "The taskforce will now go on to consider the important issue of presumed consent and the role that it could play in increasing organ donation." | "The taskforce will now go on to consider the important issue of presumed consent and the role that it could play in increasing organ donation." |
| Chris Rudge, director of UK Transplant, said there were weaknesses in the current system that needed to be addressed. He pointed out that lack of family consent currently meant four out of 10 organs considered suitable for transplant were not used. | Chris Rudge, director of UK Transplant, said there were weaknesses in the current system that needed to be addressed. He pointed out that lack of family consent currently meant four out of 10 organs considered suitable for transplant were not used. |
| Have you been affected by the issues covered in this story? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Have you been affected by the issues covered in this story? Send us your experiences using the form below. |