MP urges Government to press ahead with organ opt-out donation system

Local MP Tim Farron has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, urging him to bring forward plans to introduce an opt-out organ donation system to England.

New figures released today show that almost 50 people in Cumbria died in the last five years while waiting for a transplant.

Earlier this year the Government announced they would be seeking to change the law so that adults will be presumed to be organ donors unless they have specifically recorded their decision not to be.

However, the system won’t be in place until 2020.

As part of Organ Donor Week, Tim is also joining calls from the NHS for more families in the county to sign up to the organ donor register.

Tim said: “Today’s incredibly tragic figures show that an opt-out system for organ donation is needed now more than ever. 

“One person who dies while waiting for a transplant is one too many.

“It’s great that the Government have heeded our calls to introduce an opt-out system, but it shouldn’t need to take another two years for it to be up and running – the Government must act now.

“Although we should be proud of the huge numbers of people in the South Lakes that have signed up to be organ donor, the number of people who die every year because they can’t find a donor is still far too high.

“Signing up to be an organ donor is quick and easy to do but could well be the difference between life and death for someone.”

To join the Organ Donor Register, go to www.organdonation.nhs.uk